The Sokoto State High Court has ordered the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to immediately release the withheld results of 47 students of Global Kids Academy, Sokoto.
The order was contained in a ruling signed by Umma Abubakar Said, Director of Litigation, High Court of Justice, Sokoto, and delivered by Justice (Prof.) Muawiya Dahiru Mahmud.
The judgment followed submissions by counsel for the plaintiff, F.E. Okotete Esq., and counsel for the defendant, Kabiru Yusuf Esq. WAEC’s legal team was led by Prof. Taiwo Osipitan (SAN).
Justice Mahmud held that WAEC’s publications, including letters dated October 20, 2023, to the Sokoto State Commissioner of Education, the Chairman of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), and WAEC’s Branch Controller in Sokoto, were defamatory against the plaintiff.
The court set aside WAEC’s decision at its 76th NEC meeting, describing it as “null and void” for violating the plaintiff’s constitutional right to fair hearing.
Accordingly, the court ordered WAEC to:
Restore and release the General Mathematics results of the 47 affected students in the May/June 2023 examination.
Publish a full retraction of the defamatory publications and a formal apology to Global Kids Academy in a letter, on WAEC’s website, and in a national newspaper.
Pay N5 million each in general and aggravated damages (totaling N10 million).
Pay an additional N1 million as the cost of the action.