By Comfort James
While the motion on notice against the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board is being heard and decided, the Delta State High Court in Warri has issued an order prohibiting the board from enforcing its recent policy of requiring a minimum admissible age of 16 years for university admissions in the nation.
Only applicants who will be 16 years old by August 2025 will be allowed to postsecondary schools, according to a statement released by JAMB on October 16.
The ministry of education’s new policy, which established 18 as the minimum age for entrance to postsecondary schools, was followed by this directive.
However, students applying for admission in the 2024–2025 session were given an exception by JAMB.
Former Nigerian Bar Association chairman of the Warri branch, John Aikpokpo-Martins, took the admission board to court after becoming dissatisfied with JAMB’s order.
In an action designated W/311/FHR/2021, the only applicant, Aikpokpo-Martins, sued JAMB and Edwin Clark University as first and second respondents, respectively, on behalf of all applicants born between September 1, 2009, and December 31, 2009, who took and passed the JAMB exams in 2024.
In a decision issued Thursday, Justice Anthony Akpovi granted the petitioner all of the reliefs that they had requested. Until the hearing and decision of the original motion, the applicant had requested a court order prohibiting the respondents from acting further on and/or implementing the directives found in the first respondent’s circular dated October 16, 2024, with the caption, “Admission of candidates with minimum Admissible age of 16 years,” signed by Mohammed A. Babaji, to all Nigerian universities.
“An order of interim injunction restraining the respondents from withdrawing the admission given to Angel Aikpokpo Martins and/or restricting her rights and privileges and/or preventing her access to school and all educational facilities of the second respondent institution as a student pending the hearing and determination of the originating motion,” the applicant further requested the court to issue.
Justice Olotu issued the following ruling: “Reliefs 1 and 2 are hereby granted to preserve and protect the respondents, which is the right of every Nigerian child born between September 1, 2009, and December 31, 2009, who wrote and passed JAMB exams in 2024 to remain duly admitted by 1st respondent as it applies to all Nigerian Universities including 2nd respondent. The effect is that the 1st respondent’s circular to Vice Chancellors, Provost, Rectors dated 16/10/24 Ref: JAMB/ADMS/139/V.
111 is placed on hold and in abeyance, and the admission list from before this circular will remain in effect while the originating motion, filed on October 24, is heard. In response to the prayer, reliefs 3(a) and (b) are hereby granted for the substituted service by courier. Additionally, relief 4 for an expedited hearing is granted.
