Lawyer wants Lagos school returned to private owner

A Lagos legal practitioner, Malcolm Omirhobo, has asked the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, to prevail upon the state’s Ministry of Education to relinquish control over Isolo Secondary School in the Ire-Akari area of the state.Omirhobo, who wrote to Fashola, wants the school to be returned to its original owner, Akaix West Africa Limited.Isolo Secondary School was formerly Metropolitan College until it was taken over, along with 48 other private schools, by the Military Government of Lagos State in 1976 pursuant to the Education (Private Secondary Institutions Special Provisions) Law.However, in 2001, the administration of Bola Tinubu repealed the law.But while the other schools were returned to their owners, Metropolitan College was not returned, a development which forced Akaix West Africa Limited to sue the Lagos State Ministry of Education.The appeal to Fashola, Omirhobo said, became the option, after Akaix West Africa Limited failed in its legal bid to make the Lagos State Ministry of Education to relinquish control of the school.Akaix West Africa Limited had sued the Lagos State Ministry of Education before a Lagos State High Court for refusing to hand over the school after all the private schools earlier taken over by the government were returned to their owners.The matter had subsequently been referred to arbitration for amicable settlement out of court.At the arbitral sitting, the issues were narrowed down by parties as follows: “That the Metropolitan College comprising of Isolo Secondary School belongs to Akaix West Africa Limited.“That Metropolitan College will be released to Akaix West Africa Limited.“That the Lagos State Ministry of Education is insisting on retaining part of the property hosting Isolo Secondary School.“That Akaix West Africa Limited shall comply with the terms and conditions of the return of Private Secondary Schools.“That the Lagos State Government, from time to time, will monitor the compliance by Akaix West Africa Limited.”Omirhobo urged Fashola to put on his wig and gown as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria to call for the file, study it and advise the Lagos State Ministry of Education to return the whole school and not part to the owners.The lawyer also urged the governor to frog leap the exercise of the return of the school by ensuring that the case is presented and deliberated at the next Lagos State Executive Council meeting so that the matter could be put to an end before May 29.