By Ghazali Ibrahim 
A human rights lawyer has filed a N100 billion lawsuit against the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the Federal Ministry of Education over alleged mistreatment of students during the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The case, filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos by legal practitioner Evans Ufeli, accuses the examination body and the ministry of exposing students to unsafe, degrading, and unconstitutional conditions.
It was notably during the English Language paper, which some students were reportedly forced to write as late as 8:00 p.m. in dimly lit and poorly secured venues.
According to Ufeli, who is representing a group of affected students, the conduct of the examinations amounted to violations of the students’ fundamental rights, including their rights to dignity, fair hearing, and life.
He cited provisions of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, the Child Rights Act, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights in pressing the case.
“The Respondents failed in their constitutional and statutory duties to protect students’ rights during a crucial national exam,” the suit states.
“This has caused widespread psychological trauma, disrupted academic performance, and exposed students to physical harm.”
The application calls for a court-mandated re-sit of all affected exams, a public apology from both WAEC and the Ministry of Education, and a comprehensive review of WAEC’s logistics and contingency planning.
Ufeli is also seeking N100 billion in general and exemplary damages to compensate students for what he describes as “mental anguish, trauma, and the violation of their constitutional rights.”
“This case is not just about one paper,” Ufeli said in a statement. “It is about the future of a generation. The law does not permit the State or its agencies to sacrifice the rights and well-being of students on the altar of bureaucratic ineptitude.”
The lawyer cited corroborating reports from the National Assembly, civil society organizations, and the media, all of which documented delayed exam materials, miscommunication, and widespread confusion at various exam centers during the WASSCE.
No date has yet been set for the hearing, but the case is expected to trigger public interest, especially among education stakeholders and parents nationwide.
Officials from WAEC and the Federal Ministry of Education have not yet responded to the lawsuit as of press time.
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