Parents sue principal over alleged non-compliance with TSA

A Federal High Court in Lagos has granted an order that the Principal, Federal Government College, Ijanikin, Lagos State, Esther Akamo, and the Federal Ministry of Education be served court papers by pasting the documents on the school’s notice board or any conspicuous place in the school’s premises.

This followed the non-appearance of the defendants and their lawyers when the case was called up on Friday. The principal and three others were dragged before a Federal High Court in Lagos over alleged exploitation and non-compliance with the Federal Government’s directive on Treasury Single Account (TSA).

The suits were filed by two parents of the college, Oladapo Afolarin and Bennet Oke. The parents, in their separate suits marked FHC/L/CS/25/2023, and FHC/L/CS/2375/22, are seeking an order compelling the first defendant to account for all cash collections for the placement of senior secondary (1) students in the college.

Others listed as co-defendants are: the Minister for Education, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Federal Ministry of Education, as second to fourth defendants.

The two parents in their originating summons filed by their lawyer, Pius Sodje, asked the court for: “A declaration that the Federal Government College, ljanikin, is a federal institution, which is bound to comply with the Federal Government’s TSA policy and the payment of all fees through the approved channel of Remita; a declaration that the first, second and fourth defendants cannot collect any fee in Federal Government College, Ijanikin, by cash or through any other account except the approved TSA.”

“A declaration that the compulsory cash collection of school uniform fee from the them by the first defendant is contrary to and in conflict with the federal government’s policy of TSA and as such it is illegal; an order compelling the first defendant to disclose where the cash collection was paid to and account for all cash collections made with respect to the placement of students in SS1 in Federal Government College Ijanikin as well as other cash payments received.

“An order directing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or the Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to conduct an investigation into the whereabouts of the cash collected from the Plaintiff and other parents whose wards were placed in SS1 in Federal Government College ljanikin for the 2022/2023 academic session.”

The two parents, in separate affidavits attached with the originating summons, averred that they had been parents in the school for about four years and had paid fees to the school through the Federal Government-approved payment channel, which is Remita.

They stated that sometime in September 2022, when the school resumed, their sons were to resume in SS1 and they were given the list of fees to be paid and they made payment through the Remita platform to the Federal Government designated account.

They added that they proceeded with their sons to the school on September 9, 2022, to resume, and on getting to the school, they were requested by the school to make further payment as follows: school uniform N20,000; blazer N6,500 and cardigan N4,500.