LAUTECH: Court to begin hearing in suit challenging relocation of agric faculty today
Yinka ADETUNJI
An Oyo state high court sitting in Ogbomoso will today begin hearing on a suit filed by students of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Renewable Natural Resources, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Oyo state and parents, challenging the relocation of the faculty to Iseyin.
Advertisement
The plaintiffs in the suit marked HOG/34/2023 include Akintayo Abdulqoyuum Ajibola, Onwi Bassey Edet, Ezekiel Gbadegesin Ogunmola and Prince Aderemi Olude for themselves and on behalf of other students and parents of the 200 level students of the faculty.
The respondents in the suit are the Oyo state governor, Engr Oluseyi Makinde, the Oyo state’s commissioner for education, the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Acting Vice Chancellor and the Provost Iseyin campus.
The claimants are seeking the determination of the court on “whether Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso Law, 2020 (As Amended) permits the movement of all the already established Faculty/Departments and/or courses to a new place/campus outside the main campus.”
They are also seeking the court’s determination on “whether moving of all the already established courses from the Faculty of Agricultural Science and Renewable Natural Resources from the main ncampus of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso to Iseyin Campus or any other campuses outside the main campus is not in contravention of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso Law, 2020 (As Amended).”
Advertisement
And whether the relocation is not “a contravention of the directive of the National University Commission in a correspondence dated 14th March, 2022 with reference number NUC/AP/SO8. VOL 1/78 directed to the University.”
Thus, three reliefs are sought, including “an order of the court directing the Respondents whether by themselves, their agents, servants or anybody under their authority to return all the already established courses moved from Faculty of Agricultural Science and Renewable Natural Resources of the main campus of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso to Iseyin Campus back to the main campus forthwith.”
Also, they are praying the court for an order “directing the Respondents whether by themselves, their agents, servants or anybody under their authority to recall back the movement of all 200 level students as directed in the letter dated 19th October, 2023 signed by the Registrar of the 3 Defendant/Respondent on the authority of the 4 Defendant/Respondent from Iseyin Campus back to the main campus of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology.”
They want “an order of injunction restraining the Respondents, their agents, servants or anybody under their authority from moving all the already established courses from the Faculty of Agricultural Science and Renewable Natural Resources of the main campus of the Ladoke Akintola University Of Technology, Ogbomoso to Iseyin campus or any other campuses outside the main campus.”
Meanwhile, in a solidarity message by “Concerned students at Iseyin campus,” made available to Ogbomoso Insight, the students say, “We are not keeping quiet, as we all know that the reality is dawned on us now. Considering our suffering at Iseyin coupled with the compromising of the quality of our training. We are denied of quality education. Let’s ask ourselves on the conduct of GNS 208 at Iseyin. Our leaders are wicked.
“In lieu of that, I want to remind us that our court case hearing on this struggle is Monday 29 January, 2024. Let sensitize ourselves, parents and make ourselves available to let the public know that we are not comfortable with this denial of our right.
*It’s injustice, let’s see what the court will say on this
“Aluta continual Victoria ascerta.”
