FGC Kaduna alumni ask education ministry to save land protection suit from strike-out

The Federal Government College Kaduna Old Students Association (FGCKADOSA) has expressed concern that a suit filed by the federal ministry of education to protect the college’s land from encroachment has been abandoned.

In a statement signed by Seyi Gambo and Binta Mora, president and secretary, respectively, the association said the case, marked KDH/KAD/409/2023, which has the minister of education and federal ministry of education as claimants and Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Agency (KSUPD) and Kaduna state government as respondents, was filed on April 19, 2023, but now risks being struck out.

FGCKADOSA said the matter was instituted by the ministry’s legal department to protect the integrity of the college’s land, noting that recent developments suggest that the case is not being pursued.

In the court document seen by TheCable, the claimants prayed the court for “an order of interim injunction restraining the defendant, whether by themselves, their agents, servants, and/or privies, from further entering, developing, or committing further acts of trespass on the land belonging to Federal Government College pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice”.

However, in the statement, the old students’ association noted that the suit has now been listed for striking out.

“The private legal counsel to FGCKADOSA, who was in court, observed that the case has now been listed for striking out, as the court cannot continue to keep it on its cause list when the plaintiffs appear no longer interested in prosecuting the matter,” the association said.

It described the situation as “disturbing”, warning that the neglect could worsen the already dire educational situation in northern Nigeria, where over 14 million children are out of school.

FGCKADOSA urged Tunji Alausa, the minister of education, and Abel Enitan, the permanent secretary, to act swiftly to prevent the suit from being struck out.

It said the ex parte order earlier obtained by the ministry remains the only legal shield preventing encroachment and unlawful development on the college’s land.

“The association emphasises that losing this protective order through inaction would jeopardise federal government property, erase years of legal effort, and undermine the sanctity of education infrastructure in Kaduna state,” it added.

FGCKADOSA warned that the fate of FGC Kaduna could set a precedent that might expose other unity schools across Nigeria to similar risks.

The group reiterated its commitment to supporting the education ministry in safeguarding assets of federal unity colleges and called on alumni members, stakeholders, and well-meaning Nigerians to remain vigilant.

FGCKADOSA had in June 2023 staged a protest against what it described as “land grabbing” by the Kaduna state government under the administration of Nasir El-Rufai, alleging that over 800 plots belonging to the college were annexed.