NAN-H-25
Schools
By Moji Eniola
Ikeja, Dec. 5, 2016 (NAN) A 92-year-old school proprietress, Mrs Roseline Ololo is seeking to repossess two of her schools– Metropolitan College and Isolo Secondary School, which were acquired by the Lagos State Government in 1976.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the sui,t which is filed at the Ikeja High Court, has the Lagos State Commissioner of Education are joined as co-defendants.
Ololo, a native of Abia, alleged that she and her late husbaqnd established the Metropolitan College in 1956.
In her affidavit before the court, Ololo claimed that her family ran the schools until 1976 when the schools were acquired by the military administration of Commodore Adekunle Lawal by virtue of the Education Private Secondary Institutions (Special Provisions) Law of 1976.
According to Ololo, “the civilian government of Alhaji Lateef Jakande split my school into two namely; the Metropolitan College and the Isolo Secondary School.
“This was in order to accommodate the influx of students occasioned by the free education policy of the government.”
The nonagenarian claimed that she and her husband rejected the state government’s compensation in 1976 because it was grossly inadequate.
According to Ololo’s counsel, Mr Maxwell Omirhobo, in 2001, during the administration of Bola Tinubu, all private schools were returned to their original owners with the exception of Ololo schools.
“Repeated demands that the schools be returned, as well as protests, have been made by Mrs Ololo.
“My client, as a Nigerian citizen, has the right to own landed property anywhere in the country, as guaranteed under Section 43 of the constitution,” Omirhobo said.
NAN reports that Ololo is asking the court to declare that the refusal of the LASG to return the schools to her is a violation of her human rights.
She is also seeking a declaration of the court that the action of Lagos State amounts to “discrimination along ethnic lines”.
During proceedings on Monday, Omirhobo told the court that the state was yet to file a counter-affidavit to Ololo’s originating summons.
“On the last adjourned date, an order was given by the court to amend our originating summons, we have filed and served it.
“The defendants are yet to file their counter-affidavit.
“Though they filed an earlier counter-affidavit against our earlier originating summons, which is now moribund, we have not been informed if they are going to rely on their old counter-affidavit,” Omirhobo said.
Counsel to the state, Mrs Bosede Fashaiyedebi, asked the court for time to regularise their court processes.
“Initially, we were going to adopt the old counter-affidavit, but having gone through the document, I observed some fundamental defects which have to be amended.
“Subject to your Lordship’s convenience, we are asking for a short date to amend,” Fashaiyedebi said.
Justice Raliatu Adebiyi granted the request of the respondents, and adjourned the case to Jan. 24 for further hearing. (NAN)
MAE/BOS
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Edited by dele bodunde