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FGCKOSA Sues Federal Government, Developer Over Alleged Conversion of FGC Kano Land to Private Estate

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2 months ago

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The Federal Government College Kano Old Students Association (FGCKOSA) has instituted a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja challenging what it described as an unlawful attempt to convert part of the land belonging to Federal Government College (FGC) Kano into a private residential estate through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

In a statement issued on Saturday, FGCKOSA said the suit seeks judicial intervention over a land-swap agreement allegedly involving the Federal Ministry of Education, the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Pluck Global Company Limited, the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), and other federal authorities.

According to the association, the case has been assigned to Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Abuja Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, with the first hearing scheduled for July 8, 2026.

FGCKOSA stated that the defendants in the suit include the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, the Minister of Education, Pluck Global Company Limited, the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

The association explained that the Attorney-General of the Federation was joined in the suit because the matter raises fundamental legal questions concerning the powers of federal ministries over public land, the legality of concessions affecting federal educational institutions, and the protection of public assets held in trust for educational purposes.

According to FGCKOSA, the central issue before the court is whether land belonging to a federal government secondary school and reserved for public educational use can lawfully be transferred to a private developer under the guise of a PPP or concession arrangement.

The association said it is also seeking clarification from the court regarding the roles and powers of the Federal Ministry of Education, the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Executive Council, the ICRC, and Pluck Global Company Limited in relation to the disputed land.

FGCKOSA alleged that the decision to seek legal redress became necessary after repeated requests for information and transparency concerning the transaction were allegedly ignored by relevant authorities.

According to the association, it had written to the Federal Ministry of Education requesting clarification and access to documents relating to the concession arrangement. It added that a separate request was also sent to the ICRC seeking copies of the PPP agreement and approval documents associated with the project.

FGCKOSA claimed that while the ICRC acknowledged that the Ministry of Education was the contracting authority for the transaction and referred the association back to the ministry, key documents, including the concession agreement, approval records, valuation reports, procurement details, and evidence of Federal Executive Council approval, have yet to be made public.

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The association further alleged that despite an existing court order in Kano restraining activities relating to the disputed land, individuals linked to the project were seen entering the school premises and marking portions of the land.

According to FGCKOSA, such actions amounted to an attempt to advance the land-swap arrangement despite the pendency of legal proceedings, a development it described as troubling and inconsistent with respect for the judicial process.

The association also expressed concern over reports that authorities were considering relocating or reconstructing some school facilities outside the concessioned area, arguing that such moves suggest an assumption that the transaction is already irreversible.

FGCKOSA maintained that the land belonging to Federal Government College Kano was originally reserved for educational activities, security infrastructure, recreational facilities, future expansion, and the long-term development of the institution.

According to the association, the proposed concession would involve carving out approximately 30 hectares of the school’s land for private residential and commercial development, a move it said could permanently undermine the future growth of the institution.

The alumni body stressed that it was not opposed to genuine efforts aimed at improving infrastructure and development within the school. However, it argued that any redevelopment initiative must be transparent, lawful, and in the best interest of students, staff, alumni, and the wider public.

FGCKOSA revealed that it had previously proposed what it described as a transparent alumni-led redevelopment initiative for the school, which would focus on raising funds, attracting grants and corporate social responsibility support, upgrading facilities, and improving academic standards without relinquishing any portion of the school’s land.

According to the association, the suit is seeking several reliefs from the court, including a declaration that public land belonging to Federal Government College Kano cannot be converted into private property for the benefit of a private developer through a PPP arrangement.

The association also seeks an order nullifying any concession, transfer, lease, sale, or land-swap agreement found to be inconsistent with the Land Use Act, concession laws, and constitutional provisions governing public assets.

FGCKOSA further requested a perpetual injunction restraining the Ministry of Education, Pluck Global Company Limited, and their agents from selling, allocating, marking, developing, or otherwise interfering with the disputed land pending the determination of the matter.

In addition, the association said it is demanding full accountability from all public institutions involved in the conception, approval, and implementation of the transaction, as well as a judicial pronouncement on whether federal school land can be treated as disposable real estate without proper legal authority and public oversight.

The association maintained that the case extends beyond Federal Government College Kano and raises broader concerns about the protection of public educational assets across Nigeria.

FGCKOSA called on the Federal Ministry of Education, Pluck Global Company Limited, the ICRC, and all parties connected to the project to suspend all activities on the disputed land pending the outcome of the court proceedings.

The association also urged the Attorney-General of the Federation to defend the rule of law and public interest by ensuring that federal educational assets are protected from what it described as unlawful alienation.

FGCKOSA says its committed to protecting public education and preserving Federal Government College Kano for future generations, insisting that no public educational institution should be treated as disposable real estate.

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Shamaki Congratulates Yari on Appointment as Tinubu’s Campaign DG

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22 hours ago

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August 22, 2026

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A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Shamakin Marafan Sokoto has congratulated Senator Abdul’aziz Yari Abubakar on his appointment as Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 election.

Shamaki described Yari’s appointment as well deserved, saying his wealth of political experience, leadership qualities and proven track record contributed significantly to his emergence for the important position.

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He said Yari’s experience would play a key role in mobilising support and coordinating the APC’s campaign efforts towards ensuring the success of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the party in the 2027 presidential election.

According to him, the appointment reflects the confidence the APC leadership has in Yari’s capacity to deliver, particularly given his years of experience in politics and governance.

Shamaki expressed optimism that Yari would bring his vast political network and organisational skills

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Call Me Chairman, Not Tony!’: Elumelu’s Blunt Correction of Trainee Splits Internet as Old Video Sparks Double Standard Fury

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1 day ago

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August 22, 2026

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

A seemingly brief exchange between United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, and a female graduate trainee has erupted into a nationwide conversation about cultural values, corporate etiquette, and the politics of address, after a video of the interaction went viral on social media.

The incident occurred on Thursday, August 20, 2026, during an interactive session at the graduation ceremony for UBA’s Graduate Management Accelerated Programme (GMAP) in Lagos. In the now-viral clip, the trainee began her question by greeting the billionaire businessman with a casual, “Good morning, Tony.”

Mr. Elumelu, who was serving as a mentor at the event, promptly and firmly corrected her. According to multiple reports, he told her: “No, you won’t call me Tony. You call me Mr. Elumelu, or TOE, or Chairman.” He further justified his stance, explaining that he does not subscribe to what he termed the casual, Western-style familiarity in professional settings. “I don’t subscribe to that kind of Oyinbo life, okay!” he added.

The exchange has since polarized the Nigerian public, sparking a fierce debate on social media.

One faction of netizens has rallied behind Mr. Elumelu, arguing that the trainee’s address was a clear sign of disrespect, given his status as the chairman of a major financial institution and his seniority in age. Commentators argued that in a formal setting, the use of a title is a basic sign of respect. One social media user remarked, “Common sense should make you understand that at that moment, you are not talking to your friend, but what he is, a chairman or boss, or at least an adult that is obviously older than you.”

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Conversely, a second group has come to the trainee’s defense. They argue that modern corporate culture, even within Nigerian banks, often encourages a first-name basis to foster a more egalitarian and open work environment. A former UBA staff member, Innocent Istifanus Moses, confirmed that GMAP graduates are typically taught to address colleagues, including senior executives, by their first names. In his view, the trainee’s mistake was not irredeemable, and he advised her to issue a brief, sincere apology. “Mistake–briefly acknowledge–correct it– move on confidently,” wrote one observer.

Accusations of Double Standard Emerge

The debate took a sharper turn when an old video resurfaced online, showing Mr. Elumelu in a 2022 interview with Chisom Obi-Okoye, an MBA student at Stanford Graduate School of Business in the United States. In that footage, the student interviewer addressed him as “Hi Tony” multiple times without any objection or correction from the businessman.

This discovery has led to widespread accusations of a double standard. Critics argue that Mr. Elumelu is willing to accept the casual, “Oyinbo” culture he decried when it suits him in an international setting but enforces a rigid traditional hierarchy at home. One Facebook user, Awuzie Frankline, questioned the inconsistency, stating, “Respect should be consistent not dependent on someone’s status, location or social class.”

Defense: ‘When in Rome, Behave Like The Romans’

In defense of the UBA Chairman, supporters have argued that there is no contradiction, as the two situations occurred in vastly different cultural contexts. They contend that Mr. Elumelu was simply adapting to the norms of his environment—behaving like the Romans while in Rome, as it were. In a formal corporate setting in Nigeria, they argue, it is appropriate to demand the traditional respect that is due to one’s elders and superiors. As one commentator put it, the issue is about “the need to adjust to culture and nuance as they come.”

Beyond the immediate controversy, the incident has opened a wider conversation about generational differences, the clash between traditional African values and Western corporate norms, and the importance of navigating social cues in professional environments.

Jide Akintunde, a social commentator, expressed surprise at Mr. Elumelu’s objection, noting that his first name has been central to his public and industry branding for years. He suggested that the public correction, while perhaps justified, could have been handled privately to avoid humiliating the young trainee.

As of Friday, the young woman at the center of the storm has not made a public statement. The video, however, continues to trend, serving as a potent reminder of the intricate and often unspoken rules that govern professional and social interactions in Nigeria.

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President Tinubu Suspends Three Perm Secs as ICPC Uncovers Another Fake Agency in SGF Office

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1 day ago

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August 22, 2026

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate arrest of George Nwabueze over the alleged operation of a fake government agency within the premises of the office of the secretary to the government of the federation (OSGF).

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The president also ordered the immediate suspension of three permanent secretaries following fresh findings by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in its investigation into alleged fake government agencies and weaknesses in public service processes.

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