Court Suspends UNICAL VC Selection Process, Transfers Case To Abuja

Awarenessinfohub has gathered that the processes of getting a new Vice Chancellor to replace Professor Florence Obi of the University of Calabar, UNICAL, has reportedly been thwarted following the restraining order by National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Calabar, stopping the Governing Council from proceeding with the ongoing selection process.

The court order with Suit No. NICN/CA/40/2025, signed and sealed by its registrar, Egba Juliet Peter, directed stoppage of the selection process pending determination of the motion.

A new Vice-Chancellor was slated to emerge at the end of the current administration’s tenure in December 2025 but this schedule will no longer be.

The Suit was filed by one of the applicants, Professor Joseph Eyo Duke, a claimant, challenging the advertisement published on 27 May 2025 which listed that possible contenders must possess at least 10 years post-professorial experience.

Prof. Duke said such a requirement is unlawful. arguing that it emanated from an emergency meeting of the University Council held on 25 March 2025.

He further insisted that the criterion is rooted in a non-existent regulation.

The motion ex-parte, dated and filed on 21 July 2025, sought an interim injunction restraining UNICAL and its Governing Council from enforcing or acting upon the advertisement pending determination of the motion on notice.

Upon hearing counsel the claimant, Ubong Akpan, Justice Sanusi Kado granted accelerated hearing of both the motion on notice and the substantive suit.

He also ordered the transfer of the matter to Abuja to be heard by a vacation judge.

The judge directed all parties to maintain the status quo, refraining from any action that could jeopardise the fair hearing of the suit. and fixed August 7, 2025 for hearing of the motion on notice at the Abuja Division.

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