IN a legal move aimed at reversing the renaming of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) as Moshood Abiola University (MAU), 10 students of the institution yesterday sued President Goodluck Jonathan at a Federal High Court in Lagos.
The students resorted to legal action after days of protests that led to the closure of the institution for two weeks.
Already, the plaintiffs also secured the court’s leave to serve President Jonathan all the court processes outside Lagos jurisdiction.
The granting of the leave by Justice Mohammed Liman was sequel to a motion ex-parte brought pursuant to Order 6, Rule 17(1)(B)(iii) of the Federal High Court, Civil Procedure Rules 2009 and moved by their counsel, Dr. Kayode Owolabi.
In the motion ex-parte filed and heard in chambers yesterday, the plaintiffs sought for an order to serve the court process to the defendant (the President) outside Lagos State.
Justice Liman granted the motion upon the hearing Owolabi moved in terms of the motion and adjourned till July 10, 2012, for hearing on the motion.
In the substantive suit brought through an originating summons, the students, namely Sunday Asaolu, Julius Ayoola, Idowu Odumosu, Seyi Olowu, Oladapo Obasa, Idowu Awopeju, Adebanjo Sunday, Femi Omotosho, Segun Ogunjobi and Aiyelabola, are seeking a declaration that the University of Lagos, being a creation of an Act of the National Assembly to wit: University of Lagos Act, 1967 (as amended), cannot be governed except in accordance with the provisions of the University of Lagos Act 1967.
They are also seeking an order of court declaring that the announcement contained in the President’s May 29, 2012 broadcast changing the name of the institution to MAU is unconstitutional, ultra vires, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.
The students further want the court to declare that the power to change or amend the name of the University of Lagos being a corporate body having perpetual succession with common seal as provided under the University of Lagos Act 1967 belongs to the National Legislature.
