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 an order paper signed by Umma Sa’id, the court’s director of litigation.

The presiding judge, Justice Muawiya Mahmud, issued the ruling after hearing submissions from Ferdinand Okotete, counsel to the plaintiff, and Kabiru Yusuf for the defendant, while WAEC’s legal team was led by Taiwo Osipitan (SAN).

Mr Mahmud held that the evidence before the court established that the plaintiff’s rights had been violated, noting the damaging impact of WAEC’s publications against the school.

“Upon appraisal of the legal arguments, evidence presented, and the discretion vested in this court in matters of awarding damages, I hereby enter judgment in favour of the plaintiff against the defendant,” Mr Mahmud declared.

The court further ruled that the publications made by WAEC against Global Kids Academy in a letter dated October 20, 2023, were defamatory.

It, therefore, set aside the decision taken against the school at WAEC’s 76th NEC meeting, describing it as “null and void” for violating the plaintiff’s constitutional right to a fair hearing.

The court also ordered WAEC to release forthwith the results of the 47 affected students in General Mathematics for the May/June 2023 examinations, as they were not involved in the alleged malpractice.

“Publish a full retraction and apology to the school in a letter, on its official website, and in a national daily with wide circulation,” it added.

In addition, the court awarded N5 million each as general and aggravated damages in favour of the plaintiff, amounting to N10 million, as well as N1 million as the cost of the action. 

(NAN)