A legal showdown is unfolding at the Federal High Court in Lagos as prominent lawyer Ayodele Ademiluyi takes the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, to court over an unreleased investigation report.
Ademiluyi, the lead partner at Newworth LLP, filed a Freedom of Information (FOI) lawsuit after the ministry failed to respond to his request for the report of a Special Visitation Panel set up to investigate the crisis at the Federal College of Education (Technical) Akoka.
According to documents, the request was submitted in early March, but the ministry did not reply within the legally required seven days—prompting the legal action.
Lingering Crisis, Missing Answers
The report in question stems from a prolonged leadership crisis that erupted at the college in May 2024. Despite the panel completing its assignment, its findings have yet to be made public, leaving staff, students, and stakeholders in uncertainty.
The crisis began when members of the Senior Staff Union of Colleges of Education (SSUCOEN) locked the office of the provost, Wahab Azeez, insisting his tenure had expired under a new law that introduced a single five-year term for college leaders.
However, Azeez maintained that he had already begun a second term before the law came into effect—a position backed by former education minister Tahir Mamman.
From Protest to Violence
Tensions escalated months later, turning violent in July 2024. Reports indicate that protesters attacked members of the college’s governing council, including chairperson Olatunde Adenuga, damaging vehicles and property worth millions of naira. Over 30 individuals were reportedly arrested during the unrest.
Government Response Under Scrutiny
In response, Minister Alausa set up a 10-member panel in July 2025, led by former Bauchi State governor Mohammed Abubakar, to investigate the crisis and recommend solutions.
But months after the panel concluded its work, the report remains undisclosed—raising concerns about transparency and accountability.
Ademiluyi’s lawsuit now seeks to compel the ministry to release the document, arguing that withholding it violates Nigeria’s FOI law and undermines public trust.
Why It Matters
The continued delay in releasing the report has deepened uncertainty at the institution and sparked wider questions about how government handles crises in public education.
For many observers, the case is more than just a legal dispute—it’s a test of transparency in Nigeria’s public institutions.
