The admission process for the 2025/2026 academic session at the University of Lagos and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, has been thrown into a state of uncertainty following a significant legal intervention. On Tuesday, March 10, 2026, a Federal High Court issued an official restraining order preventing both institutions and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board from finalizing or releasing their respective admission lists. This judicial freeze comes at a critical time in the national academic calendar, effectively halting the transition of thousands of provisional candidates to fully matriculated students.

The legal crisis originated from a representative suit filed on February 24, 2026, by a coalition of candidates who participated in the recent Post-UTME screenings. The plaintiffs have leveled serious allegations of gross irregularities and a lack of transparency against the two first-generation universities. According to court affidavits, the candidates cited widespread technical glitches during the computer-based examinations that allegedly resulted in erroneous zero scores for hundreds of applicants. Furthermore, the suit challenges what it describes as the retroactive and unfair adjustment of departmental cut-off marks, which the plaintiffs claim led to the arbitrary disqualification of high-performing students.

In his ruling on March 10, Presiding Judge Justice I.N. Ayua granted an interim injunction to maintain the status quo, stating that any further movement in the admission process could cause irreparable damage to the legal rights of the aggrieved candidates. This order specifically bars the Vice-Chancellors of both universities and the Registrar of JAMB from uploading or announcing any final admission names until the substantive motion is heard. The court’s decision has created a bottleneck in the Central Admissions Processing System, leaving many students who had already seen "Admission Recommended" on their portals unable to print official letters or proceed with physical clearance.

As of Tuesday, March 24, 2026, the management teams of both the University of Lagos and Obafemi Awolowo University have acknowledged the court’s directive while maintaining that their internal processes remain among the most rigorous in Nigeria. While the universities’ legal departments are currently working to vacate the order, the National Association of Nigerian Students has expressed concern over the potential for a congested academic calendar if the delay persists. With the matter adjourned until April 15, 2026, for a definitive hearing, the future of the current admission cycle remains suspended, pending a judicial determination on whether the original examination results will be upheld or if a supplementary exercise will be mandated.