A Nigerian law graduate, Barr. Maruf Muhammed, has shared a personal story of how he narrowly missed graduating with first-class honours due to what he described as the actions of a lecturer who deliberately withheld marks, allegedly driven by personal sentiments.
In a detailed Facebook post, Muhammed narrated his experience while trying to choose between two elective courses—Energy Law and International Law—during his final year at the university.
“During my undergraduate days, I was at a great dilemma as to the optional course to pick between Energy Law and International Law upon resuming to campus at 400 level. This is because apart from the fact these courses are 4 unit courses which a B could be fatal to the CGPA, we were being advised by most seniors to choose one not out of interest but out of the assurance of getting A to boost the CGPA,” he wrote.
At the time, Muhammed said he was maintaining a 4.40 CGPA and striving to reach the first-class benchmark of 4.50. Based on advice from his Head of Department (HOD), who cited past incidents of lecturers withholding grades, he opted for International Law in a bid to secure a more favourable outcome.
However, the outcome turned out to be a bitter pill.
“We were already in first semester of 500 level when our results came out. I quickly checked and I saw 69B (21 in test and 48 in exam). I was shocked and heartbroken 💔 and I had to meet the man in his office immediately,” he recalled.
According to Muhammed, the exchange that followed was disheartening:
Me: “Good afternoon sir. May the Lord bless you. I checked my International Law result now and saw 69 B. Is there a way you can help me to round it up as stated in the Senate Rules?”
Lecturer: “What is your CGPA at the moment, Muhammed?”
Me: “4.40 sir.”
Lecturer: “You have done well but I’m sorry, there is nothing I can do on this.”
Me: “😢 😭! I prostrated. Daddy, please help me. 🙏 You are the only one who can help me in this circumstance. I don’t want to get any score that will jeopardise my chances of making a first class.”
Lecturer: “Will you stand up and leave my office, Muhammed? Don’t be silly.”
Muhammed said he later took the issue to the HOD, who intervened by sending the script back with instructions for the grade to be rounded up in line with the university’s policy. Still, the lecturer resisted.
“This man insisted, saying he didn’t graduate with a first class too. Why am I bothering him?” Muhammed lamented.
Eventually, the matter was taken to a board meeting, where the lecturer was compelled to apply the rounding rule and upgrade the mark from 69 to 70. But what seemed like a victory was short-lived.
“You felt I won? Lol 😆!! Unfortunately, I had registered for another course of this man; Administrative Law before this incident happened. For both semesters, Baba gave me 54 C and 62 B. My CGPA died at 4.48/5.0 and there was nothing that could be done,” he wrote.
He added that when he later presented his transcript for a postgraduate programme, the Dean of the Faculty of Law at the receiving university was stunned.
“The Dean exclaimed: ‘What kind of ridiculous CGPA is this? Did you offend the university you graduated from? Why will you graduate with 4.48 as overall CGPA?’”
Muhammed concluded his post by describing the experience as one of many he had with “toxic lecturers,” noting that this particular incident remains unforgettable.
