Law Firm Threatens UNILAG, OAU Over Post-UTME Result Glitch

Abuja / Lagos — A Nigerian law firm, F.K. Nnadi & Co., has threatened legal action against University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, citing alleged software glitches and irregularities in their 2025 Post-UTME results. The dispute centers on claims that many candidates were unjustly flagged for malpractice or had their results withheld without sufficient explanation.

In separate pre-action notices signed by Principal Counsel Kene Nnadi, the law firm has demanded that both universities release the Post-UTME results withheld, provide access to the answer scripts and the marking schemes used, and ensure students accused of malpractice are given fair hearings. The notice gives OAU three months and UNILAG 30 days to comply.

According to Alex Onyia, CEO of Educare (a school-software solutions company), about 752 reports have been collated from candidates who claim they were negatively impacted by what he calls a bug in the Post-UTME software. Onyia alleges some of those flagged were not involved in any wrongdoing.

Institutional Responses

UNILAG has denied the presence of a software glitch, stating that all flagged cases followed “established examination guidelines.” A spokesperson claimed the detection methods used—including monitoring systems and video surveillance—were in line with approved procedure.

OAU has not officially responded to the allegations as at the time of the reports.

Wider Context & Analysis

This is not the first time glitches in national or university screening examinations have caused uproar. In May 2025, JAMB admitted a glitch in its UTME platform that reportedly affected over 370,000 candidates, leading to result reviews and rescheduling.

In this climate, trust in Post-UTME screening systems is fragile. The glitch allegations at UNILAG & OAU could erode candidate confidence. If many feel their results were unfairly manipulated or withheld, potential backlash could include legal suits, social media outcry, and demands for systematic transparency.

Challenges ahead include:

• Ensuring the software systems used for Post-UTME are tested, audited, and robust.
• Universities providing transparent mechanisms for students to view answer scripts and question papers when contested.
• Clear, consistent guidelines for what constitutes malpractice, with proper hearings for those accused.
• Regulatory oversight (NUC, Ministry of Education) to ensure universities comply, especially in responding to pre-action notices and ensuring fairness.