Legal and academic experts say FCT Minister Nyesom Wike cannot lawfully reclaim land allocated to the University of Abuja without following due process.
Wike recently proposed reducing the university’s 11,800-hectare allocation to 4,000 hectares, citing encroachment and poor usage.
However, the university insists the land was legally allocated in 1988 by the federal government and remains protected by law.
Experts argue that only the university’s Governing Council, with Federal Executive Council approval, can authorize any revocation not the minister.
“The land is for educational purposes and can’t be taken by ministerial order,” a lawyer said.
The University Autonomy Act (2003) and court rulings support this stance. As of now, the FCT Administration has not confirmed whether the proper legal process was followed.
