An Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo has described the suspension of the National Executive Council of the Osun State University, Osogbo, by the Board of Trustees as null and void.
The Court in a judgement delivered by Justice M. O. Awe said the BoT acted in contravention of the association’s constitution.
InsightMedia recalls that two of the NEC members, Basit Abubakar – General Secretary and Tobi Oyesowo – the legal adviser have approached the Court to challenge the decision of the BoT to suspend the whole EXCOs over alleged gross misconduct.
In his judgement, Justice Awe also awarded a sum of three million Naira (N1.5m each) as damages against the defendants.
The certified true copy of the judgement obtained by InsightMedia partly reads, “On the whole the suit of the Plaintiffs succeeds and I hereby grant the following Reliefs in their favour and against the Defendants, that is:
“Declaration that the suspension of the Plaintiffs as members of the National Executive Council of the UNIOSUN Alumni Association by the 2 Defendant is ultra vires, null and void, having been done in contravention of the Associations Constitution.
“An Order setting aside the said suspension of the Plaintiffs made by the Defendants before the expiration of their tenure of office on 28th May, 2023.
“A sum of N1.500,000:00 (One Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira) in favour of each of the Plaintiff as damages for their unlawful suspension from office by the Defendants.”
The Court also clarified that the damages were for the two plaintiffs as the suit was not brought in representative capacity.
“It is important to note that the Plaintiffs suit is not brought in representative capacity and hence, the reliefs to be granted are those entitled to by them as individuals and not as a body of National Executive Council (NEC).”
However, the court declined to reinstate the NEC for completion of their tenure.
