The Federal Government and Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufaiyou can currently disagree about the latter’s alleged encroachment on a plot of land belonging to Federal Government College (FGC), Malali, Kaduna State.
Although Mr. El-rufai has less than three weeks left in his term, the federal government, through the Federal Ministry of Education (FME), approached a competent court of law and obtained an injunction restricting the state government to continue working on the disputed land.
On May 2, a judge, BF Zubairu of the Kaduna High Court, granted the FME an interim injunction prohibiting the state from “entering, developing or committing further acts of trespass” on the land belonging to the unit’s school.
Following the court order, the ministry also wrote to the Inspector General of Police in a letter referenced FME/LU/HQ/S/434/23/1/53 and dated May 4 to enforce the court order.
The ministry, in the letter signed by its permanent secretary, Andrew Adejo, requested the presence of police at the school “especially in the areas where the invasion is taking place to protect the children and school property.”
Genesis
Newslodge previously reported that the Federal Government Universities Alumni Association (FGC) in Nigeria accused the state government of illegally trespassing on the school grounds, calling on the relevant authorities to urgently intervene.
The student body narrated that the government had asked the FME in 2015 to cede parts of the school land for its use. But Newslodge has learned that the ministry refused, citing security concerns.
Mr El-Rufai’s government was also accused by the government of demolishing part of the school’s perimeter fence, saying the development has raised fears of a terrorist attack, Tribune Newspaper previously reported. reported.
But despite the court order and police involvement, the national president of the school’s alumni association, Seyi Gambo, told Newslodge that the state has “refused to stop working on FGC land.” ”.
Gambo said that since last week, the government “has continued to work on the site carrying out works without complying with the court order.”
He accused police of a possible compromise “because they have been saying they are investigating while construction continues on the disputed land.”
the police react
Meanwhile, the police have reacted to the development, including as their officer confirmed receipt of a letter on the matter.
In telephone statements to Newslodge, the new Commissioner of Police (CP), who claimed to have taken office a few days ago, Mua Garba, said that he did not know much information on the matter.
Mr. Garba, however, assured that justice would be sought in the matter and that it would be seen to be done.
He said: “We have to investigate. When the school principal delivered the letter, we told him to be patient.
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“Since they have gone to court and there is a trial on that, then they have to be patient. Give us the benefit of the doubt; We are going to solve the problem”.
When contacted by Newslodge, Chief Press Secretary to Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Ibrahim Musa, he declined to comment on the matter.
And as usual, calls made by our reporter to the phone line of the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Muyiwa Adekeye, went unanswered.