Unlawful closure of Iguoriakhi College of Agriculture; workers/ students sue Edo State Govt and others
Following the unlawful closure of Iguoriakhi College of Agriculture on 8th August, 2017, by armed policemen on the orders of Edo State Government, the body of academic and non- academic workers as well as students have sued Edo State Government and others in Suit no NICN/BEN/08/2018 at the National Industrial Court, Akure.
In the Writ of Summons / Complaint filed on behalf of the Claimants by their counsel, Dr. Ehiogie West-Idahosa of West-Idahosa & Co, the claimants are seeking amongst others,
i) a declaration that the arbitrary closure of the the college is inconsistent with the extant laws establishing the college and therefore illegal, unlawful, null and void.
ii) a declaration that the employment of the claimants is with statutory flavor and cannot be tampered with in any other manner other than in accordance with the provisions of the extant law establishing the college.
iii) a declaration that the students of the college are entitled to continue the pursuit of their academic program without let or hindrance whatsoever by the Defendants and in accordance with the provisions of the extant law establishing the college.
iv) an Order of court directing the Defendants to re-open the college and release its annual subventions as approved in the 2018 budget for the purpose of resuming its normal academic activities in accordance with the provisions of the extant law establishing the college.
v) an order of court restraining the Defendants from victimizing the claimants by abrogating, annulling or tampering with the extant law establishing the college with the intention of permanently closing same pending the determination of the suit and thereafter.
vi) an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Defendants and their agents from further arbitrarily closing down the college in a manner inconsistent with the extant law establishing the college or in any other illegal manner whatsoever.
The case has been adjourned to 7th June, 2018 for arguments on the claimants’ Motion for a Mandatory order to reopen the College pending the determination of the substantive suit before the court.
Jude Nweke
Online judicial reporters