A Lagos-based lawyer and human rights advocate, Evans Ufeli, has filed a ₦100 billion lawsuit against the West Africa Examinations Council Nigeria (WEAC) and the Federal Ministry of Education.
The suit, filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos, seeks redress for what Ufeli described as a gross violation of students’ fundamental rights during the May 2025 English Language paper of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Filed on behalf of affected students, the legal action alleges that WAEC and the Ministry forced candidates to take the exam under inhumane and constitutionally defective conditions, including writing in dark, unsafe environments, some as late as 8:00 p.m.
Citing Sections 33, 34, 35, 36, and 46 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), along with the Child Rights Act and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Ufeli’s motion seeks the following:
Rea also:
- Students Write WAEC Exam with Torchlights at Night in Asaba School After Hours-Long
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A declaration that the conduct of the English Language exam under such conditions violated students’ rights to dignity, safety, and fair hearing.
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A court order mandating WAEC and the Ministry of Education to organize a re-sit of the affected papers under proper conditions, free of charge.
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An order compelling a public apology and a full review of examination procedures.
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₦100 billion in general and exemplary damages for the psychological trauma and rights violations endured by students.
According to Ufeli, thousands of students were subjected to degrading circumstances taking high-stakes exams without adequate lighting, security, or basic amenities.
The respondents failed in their constitutional and statutory duties to safeguard the rights of students during a critical national examination, the suit alleges.
This led to widespread psychological trauma, academic disruption, and exposure to physical harm.
He condemned WAEC’s justification that security concerns and cheating prevention measures necessitated the late exams, calling it a monumental failure of planning and foresight.
This case goes beyond a single exam. It’s about the future of a generation, Ufeli said. The law does not allow state agencies to sacrifice the welfare of students for bureaucratic convenience.
He also cited corroborating reports from the National Assembly, media, and civil society groups, which confirmed logistical failures, delays in delivery of exam materials, and disorderly conditions at various exam centers nationwide.
As of press time, no date has been scheduled for the hearing.
