Macaulay, who is a nephew of the late nationalist, Herbert Macaulay, sued on behalf of himself and the United Bible University, Lagos.
The Incorporated Trustees of the Association of Christian Theologian is also a plaintiff in the suit marked FHC/L/CS/1038/17.
Joined as defendants are the NUC and the Attorney General of the Federation.
The plaintiffs are seeking a court declaration that they are not answerable to the NUC as regards the affairs of the United Bible University.
Their lawyer, Kayode Oyedeji, is contending that since Nigeria is a secular state by virtue of Section 10 of the constitution, the NUC lacks the power to regulate Christian education and theological studies in Nigeria.
They are seeking “a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants jointly and severally from harassing, disturbing, intimidating or doing anything to affect the liberty of the first plaintiff with respect to the first plaintiff’s activities at the United Bible University being regulated by the second plaintiff.”
Macaulay claimed that trouble began on April 27, 2016 when the Academic Manager of United Bible University, Mrs. Sandra Thompson, and himself were arrest by operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission.
He claimed that the arrest was at the instigation of the NUC which accused them of operating an illegal university.
He maintained that United Bible University being a non-secular university does not need NUC’s approval to operate.
But the NUC opposed the suit, saying by virtue of its establishment Act of 1974 it had the duty to regulate university education in the country.
The NUC maintained that having not been registered (by the NUC) and met the minimum standards for programmes to be pursued in Nigerian universities, Macaulay’s United Bible University remains illegal.
The NUC also challenged Macaulay’s qualification as a professor, contending that it does not recognise Levites Christian University, which Macaulay claimed awarded him the professorial title.
“Levites Christian University and United Bible University do not have the NUC’s approval to grant professorial awards to any person whatsoever and consequently, the first plaintiff is not qualified to parade himself as a professor,” the NUC argued.
The case has been adjourned till March 12, 2018.
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