…gets Second Class Lower upgraded to Second Class Upper, N20M
He was Awarded a Second Class Lower Degree Instead of a Second Class Upper: The 19 Years Academic Battle in Victor v. FUTA (2026) 8 NWLR (Pt. 2044) 33
1.0 Background
This is the incredible story of Mr. Adebayo A. Victor, who is not a lawyer but fought his university for over 15 years and won big at the Supreme Court. Victor graduated from the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) in 2007 with a Second Class Lower Division in Mechanical Engineering. He was convinced his results did not reflect his true performance. He requested the remarking of several courses, but the university refused for years.
2.0 The Court Battle
Instead of giving up, Victor took FUTA to the Federal High Court in 2011. The case was initially dismissed on technical grounds, but he appealed, got a retrial, and won. The court ordered the university to remark his scripts, issue the correct transcript and certificate, and pay him damages.
FUTA appealed. Victor cross-appealed. The matter eventually reached the Supreme Court. Before the final hearing, something beautiful happened: FUTA finally obeyed the court order and remarked the scripts.
3.0 Victor Was Right
Victor was right all along. His degree was upgraded to Second Class Upper Division. His correct certificate and transcript were even handed over to him in open court. But the story did not end there. The Supreme Court, in a powerful lead judgment by Ogunwumiju JSC, held that while universities have academic autonomy, they owe students a duty of care. Refusing to investigate genuine complaints and subjecting a student to years of hardship was a breach of that duty.
4.0 The ₦20 Million Compensation
The Court slammed the initial ₦500,000 general damages as too small for the emotional distress, lost opportunities (including a fully-funded scholarship), and years of frustration Victor endured. The New Award is now ₦18,000,000 as general damages and ₦2,000,000 as costs of litigation, making up ₦20 Million in total.
5.0 He Fought His Case without a Lawyer
A man who had no lawyer fought this case himself from the High Court all the way to the Supreme Court and he won justice. This case is more than a legal victory. It’s a lesson in resilience, courage, and the power of never giving up on what is rightfully yours.
6.0 Moral of the Story
Universities are not above the law. Students have rights. And sometimes, one determined individual can challenge the system and change the narrative.
Big congratulations to Mr. Adebayo A. Victor!
