Sacked UNAD VC drags Fayemi to court

Immediate past Vice Chancellor of the University of Ado-Ekiti (UNAD) now Ekiti State University (EKSU), Prof. Dipo Kolawole has dragged the State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi to court, challenging his (Kolawole) removal from office.

In the suit number HAD/136/2011 filed at the High Court of Ekiti State sitting in Ado-Ekiti, Prof Kolawole is seeking a declaration of the court that his removal was "null and void, ineffectual and unlawful by reason of gross irregularity, lack of reasonable cause, denial of natural justice and non compliance with the University of Ado-Ekiti Law No 5 of 2008 and breach of Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as ammended."

Other defendants in the case, which has been adjourned till September 29, 2011 are the University and its governing council.

It would be recalled that Prof Kolawole, who was appointed as VC of UNAD on March 19, 2009 to serve for a statutory period of five years, was sacked by Governor Fayemi in May, this year.

The reason adduced by the government for Kolawole's removal was "as part of the ongoing reform in the Education sector of the state."

Prof Kolawole however wonders how he had constituted an impediment to the Education Reform in the State as University VC.

He is therefore seeking a declaration of the court that his removal was null and void having been done by the governor in contravention of UNAD Law No 5 of 2008 and against the principles of natural justice.

Prof Kolawole is also seeking an order of the court for his reinstatement.