The Federal High Court In Calabar, Cross River State, has ordered the University of Calabar, to pay N55 million naira to eight students of the institution after they were admitted into unaccredited Engineering programmes in the institution.
Justice R. O. Dugbo-Oghoghorie, who delivered the judgment yesterday, March 4, 2026, in the suit (FHC/CA/CS/117/21) brought before him by one Idiong Ekpedeme Godwin and seven others, popularly referred to as the “UNICAL 8? against the university, her former Vice Chancellor, Florence Obi, and four others, declared the university’s actions in admitting students into unaccredited engineering programmes as “fraudulent, reckless, and deceitful.”
While evidence showed full accreditation was only secured in the 2024/2025 cycle – years after the plaintiffs were expected to have graduated, the court declared that no institution should operate a programme without prior NUC approval. The University owed a “duty of care” to disclose the accreditation status to prospective students, it was emphasised.
Accordingly, the court awarded N50 million naira in general damages and N5.247 million naira in special damages to the plaintiffs for the psychological trauma and academic stagnation they have suffered.
At press time, authorities of the institution were yet to reply to enquiries made by www.calitown.com, seeking Unical’s response to this judgement.
