By Sabiu Abdullahi
The Delta State High Court in Warri has issued an order restraining the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) from implementing its policy requiring a minimum age of 16 for university admissions.
Justice Anthony Akpovi granted the relief, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed against JAMB.
JAMB’s directive, announced on October 16, stated that only candidates aged 16 by August 2025 would be admitted to tertiary institutions.
However, this policy was challenged by John Aikpokpo-Martins, a former Nigerian Bar Association chairman.
Aikpokpo-Martins sued JAMB and Edwin Clark University on behalf of candidates born between September 1 and December 31, 2009, who passed the 2024 JAMB exams.
The court granted an interim injunction, preserving the admission rights of these candidates.
Justice Akpovi ruled, “Reliefs 1 and 2 are hereby granted. The status quo to be maintained is the admission list prior to this circular pending the hearing of the originating motion.”
This development halts JAMB’s implementation of the minimum age requirement until further court proceedings.