failure that continues to raise alarming questions about accountability, influence, and
the rule of law in Africa's most populous nation.
On April 30, 2024, Joshua Èjuojo Daniel-Ejigbo, a first-year Computer Science
student at Veritas University in Abuja, died under circumstances that remain
contested. The university's official position maintains that Joshua was struck by a
falling barbell while exercising unsupervised in the campus gymnasium. However,
this account was immediately challenged by an independent autopsy conducted at the
National Hospital Abuja, which documented evidence of "asphyxia due to high
cervical spinal cord injury and transection resulting from blunt force trauma to the
upper back and neck regions."
Most disturbingly, the autopsy revealed a broken neck with 360-degree dislocation—
injuries that forensic literature typically associates with deliberate violence rather
than accidental trauma.
Court records show that two separate lawsuits have been filed by the Ejigbo family—
one at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (Suit No:
FCT/HC/CV/2869/2024) and another at the Federal High Court (Suit
No:FHC/ABJ/CS/1898/2024). Both cases have experienced what can only be
described as extraordinary procedural delays.
The first case, filed against Veritas University, Abuja as the sole defendant, seeks
₦7.425 billion in damages for alleged negligence and breach of duty of care. This
suit has seen only preliminary hearings in twelve months despite the gravity of the
allegations.
The second, more expansive lawsuit names six defendants: The Minister of
Education Federal Republic of Nigeria, The Federal Ministry of Education, National
Universities Commission, Veritas University Ltd/GTE (Also Known as Veritas
University), Archbishop Ignatius A. Kaigama, and Zachariah Samjumi Nyantiso. This
suit includes allegations of fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of statutory duty, and
personal liability of the university's directors.
The pattern of delays observed in both cases—lengthy adjournments has effectively
transformed the legal process into a protracted battle with no resolution in sight.
In May 2024, the family's legal representation submitted a formal petition to the
House of Representatives, detailing serious allegations including:
1. Conflicting accounts of Joshua's death between the university's narrative and
witness statements
2. Evidence of severe trauma inconsistent with an accidental gym injury
3. Alleged negligence in the FCT Police Command's investigation, particularly
regarding a suspect identified as Paulinus Ali
4. Claims that the university attempted to intimidate the family into silence
One year later, no formal response or action from the House Committee has been
documented.
The Federal High Court lawsuit has brought to light another disturbing dimension of
the case. Legal documents reviewed for this article allege that Veritas University was
operating without proper authorisation at the time of Joshua's death.
According to court filings, the provisional license granted to the university in 2007
expired in 2010, while the current legal entity operating as Veritas University was not
incorporated until October 4, 2021 (Registration Number 1847242). These
allegations directly implicate the regulatory responsibilities of the National
Universities Commission (NUC) and the Federal Ministry of Education, both named
as defendants.
The NUC, tasked with ensuring compliance with educational standards, has declined
to comment on these allegations, citing "ongoing legal proceedings."
The criminal investigation into Joshua's death has faced equally troubling
impediments. Documentation related to the case indicates that despite initial arrests,
all detainees hastily charged without proper investigations leading to a trial designed
to be terminated on technical grounds. The police have not publicly identified any
suspects or persons of interest in the year since the incident.
Particularly concerning are allegations contained in the House petition that FCT
Police Command failed to thoroughly investigate the alibi of a prime suspect or
retrieve crucial electronic evidence that could have verified his whereabouts at the
time of Joshua's death.
At Gudu Cemetery in Abuja, where Joshua was laid to rest on May 8, 2024, his
parents today at his graveside. "We come here to remember, but also to recommit
ourselves to finding the truth," says Honourable Daniel Oneal Ejigbo, Joshua's father.
"The system is designed to exhaust us into giving up, but they do not understand that
for parents, justice for your child is not optional—it is as necessary as breathing."
Mrs. Ifeoma Ejigbo, Joshua's mother, speaks of the psychological toll of fighting
against institutional inertia: "Each delay, each unanswered question is another
trauma. But we cannot and will not stop seeking answers. What happened to our son
could happen to any child in Nigeria if we allow this culture of impunity to persist."
As the Ejigbo family marks the sombre anniversary of their son's death, their legal
team continues to pursue multiple avenues for accountability.
The unresolved death of Joshua Èjuojo Daniel-Ejigbo forces a national reckoning
with uncomfortable questions about Nigeria's justice system. In a constitutional
democracy, the uniform application of law regardless of wealth, status, or
institutional affiliation is not merely aspirational—it is foundational.
As this case enters its second year without resolution, it stands as a stark reminder of
the distance between Nigeria's constitutional promises and its institutional realities.
For the Ejigbo family, the search for justice continues not only for their son but for
the principle that every Nigerian life deserves equal protection under the law.
The question that remains is whether Nigeria's justice system will rise to meet this
fundamental challenge, or whether Joshua Èjuojo Daniel-Ejigbo will join the long list
of cases where justice delayed has ultimately meant justice denied.
