Out-of-court settlement puts an end to Edo College of Education crisis

An out-of-court settlement has been reached by a Lagos-based legal practitioner, Odiana Eriata and the Edo State Government in a suit delineated B/101os/2022 bordering on alleged directive to wind up Edo State College of Education, Igueben Campus.

Eriata had prayed the court for a declaration that the purport of the transitional provisions of Section 33 of the Edo State College of Education Law, 2020 is to ensure the continuity of the academic activities of the College of Education, Igueben in spite of the repealing of College of Education, Igueben Law 1981 and an order of perpetual injunction restraining them from disrupting or shutting down the academic activities of the school.

He also prayed the court for a declaration that the action of the Edo State Governor and the Commissioner for Education, terminating the admission of students of 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 academic sessions of College of Education, Igueben, in the name of restructuring was not only ultra vires but also against the spirit and intendment of Sections 9 and 33 of the Edo State College of Education Law, 2020.

Joined in the suit marked as correspondents are the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and the Edo State College of Education (Igueben Main Campus).

In their defence,  the respondents denied the claims and stated that the institution was still running and that academic activities were still ongoing and the court directed an out-of-court settlement.  The parties met and resolved to settle the matter on the following terms:

“That the Respondents will ensure the continuity of academic activities at the College of Education, Igueben in spite of the repealing of College of Education, Igueben Law 1981 which is the purport of the transitional provisions of Section 33 of the Edo State College of Education Law, 2020.

“That the 1st-3rd Respondents, their agents, privies and/or representatives will not take any steps or actions aimed at disrupting and/or shutting down the academic activities of the 4” Respondent in the guise of restructuring and/or for whatsoever reason.

“That the State Government will continue to adequately fund the institution from time to time based on budgetary allocations and that the academic rights of the students of College of Education, Igueben, Edo State shall be guaranteed by the Respondents even in the transition period of the said institution.”

Upon the filing of the Terms of Settlement dated February 9, 2024, a virtual court session was fixed for the parties to testify of the fact that they signed the said Terms of Settlement.

Accordingly, Justice Joy Oghogho Okeaya-Inneh adopted and entered the Terms of Settlement dated 9th February, 2024 as the judgment of the  Court which shall be binding on all the parties.