By Ismail Azeez
A Federal High Court in Osogbo, Osun State, has directed Obafemi Awolowo University to rectify the degree classification of a graduate, Shekoni Jemima Oluwagbemisola, after finding that the institution unlawfully downgraded her result.
In her judgment, Justice Adefunmilola Demi-Ajayi ruled that the university breached the plaintiff’s fundamental rights by changing her grade from Pass with Credit to Pass without any lawful basis.
The court consequently awarded ₦5 million in damages against the university, alongside ₦800,000 to cover the cost of litigation.
Oluwagbemisola, a Physiotherapy graduate who earned a Bachelor of Medical Rehabilitation (B.MR) in 2023, had approached the court to contest what she described as an arbitrary alteration of her academic record.
Court documents revealed that the university had initially issued her a statement of result on November 23, 2023, confirming her classification as Pass with Credit.
The same classification was publicly announced during the institution’s 47th convocation ceremony in December 2023 and reflected in the official brochure.
The issue came to light when she applied for her original certificate and discovered that her classification had been downgraded to Pass.
In her ruling, Justice Demi-Ajayi described the university’s action as arbitrary, reckless, and a clear breach of due process.
The court faulted the institution for failing to publish the plaintiff’s final-year results and for not conducting a proper investigation before effecting the change.
The judge held that the unlawful alteration infringed on the plaintiff’s rights, caused significant hardship, and disrupted her academic and professional advancement.
The court subsequently ordered the university to issue a corrected certificate reflecting the original Pass with Credit classification, in line with its earlier records and Senate approval.
It further noted that the downgrade adversely affected the plaintiff’s postgraduate prospects and subjected her to emotional and psychological distress.
All reliefs sought by the plaintiff were granted, reinforcing the obligation of academic institutions to uphold transparency, accuracy, and due process in managing students’ academic records.
Reacting to the judgment, the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abiodun Olarewaju, said the university will study the judgment and act accordingly.