*As JAMB Withdraws Controversial Age Requirement Circular Following Court Order
The Delta State High Court in Warri has ordered the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to admit all 2024 candidates who passed the entrance exams, particularly those set to turn 16 between September 1 and December 31, 2025, in the ongoing legal battle between John O. Aikpokpo-Martins, Esq., JAMB, and Edwin Clark University.
The case, filed under Suit No. W/311/FHR/2024, centers around the age requirements for university admission in Nigeria. The court’s decision comes after J. O. Aikpokpo-Martins sought to commit the Registrars of JAMB and Edwin Clark University to prison for alleged disobedience of court orders granted on October 24, 2024.
During today’s proceedings, JAMB’s counsel, led by A. O. Mohammed, SAN, conceded that the interim orders granted by the court on October 24 must be obeyed. JAMB also informed the court that it has sent a circular to all Vice-Chancellors of Universities, notifying them of the withdrawal of its October 16 circular pending the case’s determination.
The court, in its ruling, reiterated its order from October 24, stating that all universities in Nigeria are bound by it and must admit the affected candidates, allowing them to resume school immediately. Furthermore, the court directed the Minister of Education to hold an emergency meeting with JAMB and other stakeholders to explore Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), considering the case’s wide-reaching implications for many Nigerian students and the government’s educational policy.
The court also granted J. O. Aikpokpo-Martins’ application to join Delta State University, Abraka, University of Delta, Agbor, and Admiralty University, Ibusa as additional respondents in the case.
The matter has been adjourned to November 21 and December 4, 2024, for further hearing and/or a report on the progress of the ADR process.
Meanwhile, TheNigeriaLawyer sighted a mail dated yesterday, November 7, 2024, in which the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has withdrawn its previous directive regarding underage admission candidates. In an official communication sent to Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities at 09:56 AM, JAMB’s representative, M. A. Babaji, announced the withdrawal of their earlier letter (Reference No. JAMB/ADMS/139/V.III) dated October 16, 2024. The withdrawn letter had initially attempted to make provisions for candidates who would not have reached 16 years of age by January 1, 2025. According to the latest communication, this reversal was made in compliance with a Court order.