Justice Adefunmilola Demi-Ajayi of the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, has ordered Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) to correct the degree classification of a graduate, Shekoni Jemima Oluwagbemisola, after finding that the institution unlawfully downgraded her result.

The court, in its verdict, held that the university breached and violated the fundamental rights of the plaintiff by changing her grade from “Pass with Credit” to “Pass” without lawful justification.

The court consequently awarded N5 million in damages against the university, alongside N800,000 as the cost of the suit.

Oluwagbemisola, a graduate of Physiotherapy who earned a Bachelor of Medical Rehabilitation (B.MR) in 2023, had approached the court in Suit No. FHC/OS/CS/107/2025, challenging what she described as the arbitrary alteration of her academic record.

Filed through her counsel, Princewill Okoroafor of P. O. Okoroafor & Co (The Daniels Chambers), the suit stated that the university initially confirmed her academic standing as “Pass with Credit” in a Statement of Result dated November 23, 2023.

The classification was also publicly affirmed during the institution’s 47th Convocation in December 2023, where she was listed in the official convocation brochure as graduating with the same grade.

However, trouble began when the plaintiff applied for her original certificate, only to discover that the university had revised her degree classification to “Pass”.

After unsuccessful attempts to resolve the discrepancy internally, she sought judicial intervention.

While delivering judgment, Justice Demi-Ajayi described the university’s conduct as “arbitrary and reckless”, noting that it failed to adhere to acceptable standards and best practices expected of a reputable institution.

The judge further faulted the university for failing to publish the plaintiff’s final year results and for neglecting to properly investigate the alleged error before altering her grade.

“Having found that the university breached, violated and infringed on the fundamental rights of the applicant by unlawfully and illegally changing her grade from ‘Pass with Credit’ to ‘Pass’, the court holds that there is no doubt that the illegal and unlawful action of the defendant must have caused the applicant great inconvenience and hardship,” the judge held.

The court added that such conduct, which shows disregard for the law, warranted the award of exemplary damages.

Justice Demi-Ajayi also referenced the appellate decision in Okafor & Anor v AIG Police Zone II Onikan & Ors (2019) to support the award of damages in cases involving abuse of rights.

The court declared that the university is legally bound to issue the plaintiff’s original degree certificate reflecting the correct classification of “Pass with Credit”, in line with its earlier publications and official communications.

It further held that the alteration of the result had caused significant disruption to the plaintiff’s academic and professional pursuits, noting her unchallenged evidence that she had already used the earlier result for postgraduate applications.

The court found that a reasonable person would conclude that the plaintiff suffered emotional and psychological stress as a result of the university’s actions.

Accordingly, the court granted all the reliefs sought by the plaintiff, including orders directing the university to issue a corrected certificate consistent with the decision of its Senate, which had approved her result on November 20, 2023. (Guardian)

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