The Architect Registration Council of Nigeria has been dragged before the Federal High Court in Akure , the Ondo State capital , by some architects holding the Higher National Diploma certificate .
The aggrieved professionals alleged that the council was discriminating against their HND certificates and consequently refused to register them as members .
The plaintiffs alleged that only architects with university degree were being recognised by the council .
Specifically, the architects alleged that because they possessed HND certificate in Architecture , the council denied them the opportunity of sitting the Architects Compentence Programme Examination or Professional Practice Examination .
They prayed the court to give an order mandating the defendants to allow them and “ all HND holders in Architecture from accredited polythenics to be considered for registration and licensing as architects via Final I , Finals II & PPE Professional Practice Examination or Architects Competence Programme Examination . “
The plaintiffs also sought an order of the court , compelling the defendants to allow them and “ all HND holders in Architecture from accredited polytechnics , who have , in addition to their HND , postgraduate diplomas and Master ’ s degree in Achitecture , to sit the Architects Compentence Programme Examination or Professional Practice Examination . ”
At the court proceeding on Wednesday , the defendants were however absent despite being reportedly served with a writ of summons earlier .
But the judge , Justice Audu Dogo, adjourned the case till January 14 , 2019 for commencement of hearing.
The judge said it was inappropriate for the court to give a judgment without hearing from the defendant .
Speaking with journalists after the court proceedings , the counsel for the applicants, Mr Henry Nnabugwu , said the defendants had on two occasions been served with a writ of summons but they refused to come to court .
He said , “ We have filed our matter in the court for a while now but ARCON has not been responding to the court processes .
“ But today ( Wednesday ) the court has set a date for hearing. ”