A Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed June 15 for a suit filed by a 92-year-old widow, seeking return of her schools allegedly taken over by the Lagos State Government in 1976.
The applicant, Mrs Roseline Ololo had filed the suit through her lawyer, Chief Malcom Omirhobo, praying the court for an order returning her schools to her.
Joined as respondents in the suit are the Attorney General of the Federation, Minister of Education, Lagos State Government, Lagos State Attorney General, and Lagos State Commissioner for Education.
When the case was called on Monday, counsel for the applicant informed the court that all respondents in the suit had been duly served with the processes.
Mr Chituru Ololo represented the second applicant (Akaix West Ltd), while the court took judicial notice of the first applicant, who was absent due to her age.
Mrs Olufunke Osarenkhoe represented the fourth, fifth, and sixth respondents, while the first and second respondents were absent and not represented.
The Counsel to the applicant informed the court of its motion on notice seeking leave to amend his originating processes.
Justice Rabiu Shagari, therefore, adjourned the suit to June 15 for hearing of applicant’s processes.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Ololo had filed the action for enforcement of her Fundamental Human Rights as enshrined in chapter four of the constitution.
She prayed the court for a declaration that the refusal by the Lagos State Government to return her schools was `unjust, unconstitutional, illegal and unlawful’.
In her affidavit, she averred that in 1952, she and her late husband both incorporated a company, Akaix Africa Ltd, in which name they established Metropolitan College.
The applicant explained that they were granted permission by the Federal Ministry of Education to establish Metropolitan College of Commerce.
She said that in 1966, before the Nigerian Civil war, they had purchased over 8.17 hectares of land at the Ire-Akari Isolo area of Lagos for sitting of the school.
The applicant said that in 1976, the military government of Lagos State took over 48 Private Secondary Schools from their owners, including Metropolitan College.
“In the process, Isolo Secondary School was carved out of Metropolitan College on the same expanse of land hosting the college.
“In 2001, the then administration repealed the law and returned the said 48 private schools to their owners while Metropolitan College was curiously not returned to its owners,’’ she said
The applicant, therefore, prayed the court for a declaration that the refusal of the respondents to return her schools violated her constitutional right to acquire and own landed properties.
Ololo prayed the court for an order restraining the respondents from further infringing on her fundamental right, as well as an order returning her property to her.
