Abuja varsity grants amnesty to students rusticated for exam malpractices

The Senate of Yakubu Gowon University, formerly known as University of Abuja, has approved a sweeping academic amnesty for students previously implicated in examination misconduct spanning five academic sessions.

The amnesty, which covers offences committed between the 2020/2021 academic year and the first semester of the 2024/2025 session, was approved during the Senate’s 189th Regular Meeting held on Wednesday, May 28, 2025.

It was based on recommendations presented by the institution’s Central Examination Misconduct Committee and exercised under the Senate’s statutory powers as outlined in Section 19(1) of the University of Abuja Act.

In a press statement signed by Dr. Habib Yakoob, Acting Director of Information and University Relations, the university made it clear that the decision was taken in good faith and was not politically motivated or targeted at any specific group.

“The students who benefitted from this amnesty cut across all faculties and levels. The decision was a result of careful consideration and aimed at ensuring fairness in academic justice,” Dr. Yakoob said.

He stressed that the university remains committed to upholding disciplinary standards, and that cases of misconduct will continue to be treated with seriousness.

However, he added that the Senate, as the highest academic decision-making body, retains the prerogative to intervene in pending cases when necessary.

Dr. Yakoob reaffirmed the institution’s dedication to transparency, integrity, and full compliance with academic regulations laid out by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and other oversight bodies.

The decision is widely seen as a reconciliatory gesture to reintegrate affected students, while reinforcing the institution’s commitment to fairness and academic growth.