Lawyer Drags WAEC to Court Over Midnight Exams, Demands N100bn Compensation

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the Federal Ministry of Education are facing a N100 billion lawsuit filed by Lagos-based lawyer and human rights activist, Evans Ufeli, over the alleged violation of students’ fundamental rights during the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

In a suit filed on behalf of affected students, Ufeli is asking the Federal High Court to declare the conduct of the May 2025 English Language paper unlawful, inhumane, and constitutionally flawed. He claims students were forced to sit for exams under degrading and traumatic conditions, including late-night sessions—some as late as 8pm—in poorly lit and unsafe venues.

The legal action, brought under key sections of the Nigerian Constitution, the Child Rights Act, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, seeks sweeping judicial remedies. These include a court-ordered re-sit of all affected exams under proper conditions and a N100 billion compensation for the emotional and psychological trauma suffered by the students.

Ufeli argues that thousands of students were subjected to “unsafe, dimly lit, and hazardous environments” with inadequate lighting and security, a clear breach of their rights to dignity, fair hearing, and life. He accused WAEC and the Ministry of Education of gross negligence, administrative failure, and indifference to the welfare of schoolchildren during a critical national examination.

The suit is seeking six key reliefs, among them a formal declaration that the conditions under which the English paper was conducted violated students’ constitutional rights, an order mandating a free re-sit of the affected exam papers, a public apology from the authorities, and a full review of WAEC’s examination logistics and contingency planning.

In a statement accompanying the legal filing, Ufeli criticised WAEC’s justification of its exam conduct, stating that citing security threats and fears of malpractice is no excuse for exposing minors to such inhumane treatment. He described the incident as a failure of planning and foresight, adding that the matter is about safeguarding the future of a generation, not just addressing one examination paper.

He also referenced reports from the National Assembly, media organisations, and civil society groups, which confirmed irregularities including delayed delivery of exam materials and chaotic conditions in numerous examination centres across Nigeria.

The case is currently pending, with no date yet fixed for the hearing.