The Minister of Education, Maruf Alausa, is facing legal action from a group of lawyers demanding a fresh selection process for the Vice Chancellor position at the University of Benin (UNIBEN).
The Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP) has filed a pre-action notice dated May 20, 2026, indicating their intention to approach the Abuja Federal High Court to seek an order compelling the minister to conduct a new selection process.
Allegations Against Current Vice Chancellor
Prof. Edoba Omoregie, SAN, from the Faculty of Law, who assumed office as UNIBEN's 11th substantive Vice-Chancellor in December 2014, is at the center of the controversy. ALDRAP is seeking the nullification of his appointment over alleged infractions.
In their pre-action notice signed by Administrative Secretary Jesse Amuga, the association requested the scores of all 25 candidates who participated in the 2024 selection process. They also sought information regarding alleged violations of service conditions, claiming Omoregie had an overdue period of leave of absence from UNIBEN.
A key allegation is that Prof. Omoregie received double salaries and allowances between 2014 and 2024 from both UNIBEN and the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS).
Legal Grounds for the Lawsuit
Following the expiration of their seven-day notice period, ALDRAP announced plans to file a lawsuit naming the President, the Minister of Education, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) as respondents.
The association is seeking several declarations, including:
That the selection and appointment of the current VC is null and void, having been made in violation of extant laws
That the appointment breaches principles of merit, transparency, and fairness
That Prof. Omoregie is ineligible for the position due to overstaying his statutory leave of absence from UNIBEN while at NILDS
That the VC is disqualified for allegedly violating Section 19 of the ICPC Act by collecting salaries from both institutions simultaneously
ALDRAP is also requesting the court to order ICPC to investigate and prosecute the VC for the alleged infractions.
Public Interest Concerns
The association states that it has the requisite legal interest and standing as a public interest body committed to promoting good governance, legislative compliance, and transparency in public institutions.
ALDRAP has emphasized that the selection process for the VC of UNIBEN is required by law and university regulations to be based on merit and transparency, arguing that the current appointment fails to meet these standards.
The Minister of Education has yet to respond publicly to these allegations as the case develops.
