LEDAP sues JAMB, NUC, wants post UTME scrapped!!!

THE Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP) has filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja seeking for an order declaring the post- Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) tests conducted by universities, polytechnics and colleges before admitting students illegal and should be abolished.

In the suit, which was filed against Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB) and National Universities Commission (NUC), the group claimed that there is no law authorizing them to subject candidates to a second screening or test after the examination by JAMB.

The group also claimed that the post-UTME tests have become a source of boldface corruption in the universities, polytechnics and Colleges, adding that lecturers and admission officials charge candidates huge sums of money using the post-UTME as smoke screen.

In the suit filed by Mr. Chino Edmund Obiagwu, lead counsel for LEDAP, the group seeks a declaration that only the 1st Defendant (JAMB) has the statutory powers to conduct matriculation examinations for admission into all Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education in Nigeria.

He also wants declaration that the imposition and conduct of post-UTME by Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education in Nigeria for candidates seeking admission into their institutions is illegal and unlawful.

“A declaration that the 2nd and 3rd Defendants (NUC and Federal Ministry of Education) have no powers howsoever to allow or direct Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education in Nigeria to further screen or conduct admission tests in violation of Joint Matriculation Board, Act,” as well as an order ‎of perpetual injunction restraining all Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education in Nigeria from further imposition or conduct of Post-UTME or any other form of admission screening test in Nigeria.

According to the plaintiff, the grounds upon which the reliefs are sought are that the 1st defendant is the only statutory body with powers to exercise general control of the conduct of matriculation examinations leading to admissions into all Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education in Nigeria.

The plaintiff said: “The matriculation examination conducted by the 1st defendant is the only test required by law under section 5(1) and (2) of the Joint Admission and Matriculations Board Act, for admission of candidates into all Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education in Nigeria.”

The plaintiff stated that the 2nd defendant directed all Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education in Nigeria to further screen and conduct examination for candidates recommended to them for admission by the 1st defendant contrary to the Joint Admission and Matriculations Board (JAMB) Act.

According to LEDAP, since 2005 all universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education in Nigeria have been conducting admission tests or screening for candidates seeking admission into their institutions in violation of section 5 (1) and (2) of the Joint Admission and Matriculations Board Act.