Federal High Court Orders UNICAL to Pay N55m to Demoted Engineering Students

CALABAR— In a landmark ruling that underscores accountability in Nigeria’s higher education sector, the Federal High Court in Calabar has mandated the University of Calabar (UNICAL) to pay N55 million in damages to eight engineering students wrongfully demoted due to unaccredited admissions.

Justice R. O. Ogoghorie-Dugbo, delivering judgment in suit number FHC/CA/CS/117/21 filed by Idiong Ekpedeme Godwin and seven others—collectively known as the “UNICAL 8″—described the university’s actions as “illegal, fraudulent, reckless, and deceitful.” The plaintiffs sued UNICAL, its former Vice-Chancellor Professor Florence Obi, and four other officials for admitting them into engineering programs without prior approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC).

The court emphasized that “no institution should operate a programme without prior NUC approval,” holding UNICAL to a “duty of care” to disclose accreditation status to prospective students. It awarded N50 million in general damages for psychological trauma and academic setbacks, plus N5.247 million in special damages covering lost opportunities and related costs.

This saga traces back to 2021, when UNICAL demoted over 212 engineering students—shifting final-year and third-year cohorts down to second year—after NUC flagged the programs’ lack of full accreditation. The move sparked widespread outrage on campus, with protests and legal actions from affected students. Evidence presented showed full NUC accreditation for UNICAL’s engineering courses was only granted in the 2024/2025 session, by which time the “UNICAL 8” should have graduated.

UNICAL’s Director of Public Relations, Mr. Eyo Eyo, acknowledged the verdict in a statement, promising a “formal response” soon. Online reports indicate the university plans to appeal, citing procedural issues, while student unions hail the decision as a win against administrative opacity.

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The ruling highlights ongoing NUC accreditation challenges across Nigerian universities, where resource constraints and rapid enrollment growth often outpace regulatory approvals. In 2023, NUC audits revealed similar issues at institutions like the University of Nigeria and Federal University of Technology, Owerri, leading to program suspensions. Education stakeholders, including the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), have called for stricter enforcement and federal intervention to prevent such scandals.

For the “UNICAL 8,” the compensation offers some redress after years of stalled careers, but experts warn it may not fully restore lost time. As one plaintiff noted post-judgment: “This is justice, but our degrees remain delayed.”

UNICAL management has yet to confirm payment timelines amid the looming appeal.