A Labour Party (LP) chieftain, Abayomi Arabambi, has commenced a legal action against the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) over what he described as the institution’s failure to provide academic records linked to the 1984 Bachelor of Arts degree attributed to Peter Obi.

The case was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja after Arabambi said his requests for certified academic documents under the Freedom of Information Act were not answered in the manner he expected.

What To Know

• Arabambi is asking the Federal High Court to compel UNN to respond to his request for academic records.
• The request concerns Certificate No. D000198, described in his court papers as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy issued in 1984.
• He said the request was made under the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.
• Arabambi said UNN received his original request on August 6, 2026.
• He later sent a reminder, which he said was received on September 1, 2026.
• The case, filed as FHC/ABJ/CS/2144/2026, had not been assigned to a judge as of the time of the report.

How The Dispute Reached Court

According to the affidavit filed in support of Arabambi’s application, the process began with a letter dated July 16, 2026.

In that letter, Arabambi requested a certified true copy of Certificate No. D000198, which he said was issued by UNN to Gregory Peter Onwubuasi Obi in connection with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy in 1984.

He also requested what he described as the academic record or other official records on which the degree was based.

The request, according to the affidavit, was received by the respondents on August 6, 2026. Arabambi said he specifically relied on the Freedom of Information Act and stated that his request was based on public-interest and accountability considerations.

He alleged that the requested information was not provided within the period prescribed by the Act.

Arabambi further stated that he did not receive a written notice of refusal identifying the specific provision of the FOI Act relied upon for withholding the information.

What Arabambi Is Asking The Court To Do

The originating motion, filed by his lawyer Anderson Asemota on September 9, 2026, seeks an order of mandamus against the respondents.

Arabambi wants the court to compel them to perform what he described as their statutory duty under the Freedom of Information Act by determining and responding to his request dated July 16.

In his affidavit, Arabambi said he subsequently sent a reminder letter dated August 31, reiterating his request and again asking for the records.

He said the reminder was received on September 1, with the delivery receipt identifying the receiver as the Vice-Chancellor and the destination as UNN.

“As at the commencement of this action, the respondents have neither supplied the requested records nor issued a lawful written notice of refusal,” Arabambi stated in the affidavit.

The affidavit was deposed to by Chuku Maudlyn, described as a litigation secretary at the law firm of Messrs Neplus Ultra Attorneys.

The Names And Records Issue

A further issue raised in Arabambi’s court papers concerns what he described as variations in Peter Obi’s name across documents submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and educational authorities.

The supplied court account does not establish independently whether the alleged variations occurred, what caused them or what legal significance they may have.

Those matters form part of the issues raised by Arabambi in the proceedings and should therefore be distinguished from any finding by the court.

Where The Case Stands

The case was filed under suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/2144/2026 at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

According to the report, the respondents are the Vice-Chancellor of UNN and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

At the time of the report, the case had not yet been assigned to a judge.

There has also been no court ruling in the supplied material directing UNN to release the records, establishing the authenticity or otherwise of the documents in question, or determining the allegations raised by Arabambi.

Why The Case Matters Politically

The legal action places questions concerning records associated with Peter Obi within a formal judicial process at a time when political figures and parties are already positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.

However, the filing itself does not amount to a judicial finding about Obi’s academic qualifications or the authenticity of any document mentioned in the application.

The immediate issue before the court, based on the supplied material, is Arabambi’s request for access to records and his claim that the respondents failed to respond to that request as required under the FOI Act.

Questions Readers May Have

What records did Arabambi request from UNN?
He requested a certified true copy of Certificate No. D000198, along with academic records or other official records he said were connected to the degree.

When did Arabambi initially make the request?
His letter was dated July 16, 2026, while he said the request was received by the respondents on August 6.

Why did he send a reminder?
Arabambi said the requested records had not been provided and that he had not received a written refusal identifying the legal provision relied upon. He subsequently sent a reminder dated August 31.

What is mandamus?
In this case, Arabambi is asking the Federal High Court to compel the respondents to carry out what he describes as their statutory duty to determine and respond to his FOI request.

Has the court ruled on Peter Obi’s academic records?
No such ruling is contained in the supplied report. The case had not yet been assigned to a judge at the time of the report.

What Happens Next?

The immediate procedural development will be the progression of the case after its filing and assignment to a judge.

Any subsequent court proceedings, response from the respondents or judicial determination will be necessary before conclusions can be drawn about the issues raised in Arabambi’s application.

Political Significance

The case is significant because it involves a prominent political figure and concerns records that Arabambi says are relevant to questions of public accountability.

For now, however, the central established development is the filing of the court action itself. The allegations contained in the application remain matters raised by the applicant until they are addressed by the respondents or determined through the judicial process.