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Incessant building collapse: civil society coalition calls on Minister to cancel COREN’s illegal election

Published

2 years ago

May 13, 2023

By Our Correspondent

A coalition of 5 civil society groups have called on the minister of works, Babatunde Fashola (SAN) to look into the illegal leadership of COREN as installed through ways that did not conform with laid down professional procedures

In a press statement release by the group in Abuja, signed by its coordinator comrade Mohammed Adamu, it stated that with rising cases of building collapses, poor engineering works for road construction and project execution, it cannot condone a leadership of COREN elected without complying with the law, Adamu made this call in Abuja intimating the minister of works and housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN to intervene and prevent non-qualified leadership of council for the regulation of engineering in Nigeria*

He said, majority of Nigerians, have been gravely concerned about the rising spate of building collapses in many states of Nigeria with attendant loss of many lives which is generally blamed on poor engineering, quackery and non-compliance with building regulations.

Comrade Mohammed Adamu said, in view of this worrisome situation, we think the Nigerian Engineering profession could begin to get things rights and address the spate of engineering misconducts and malpractices by having a leadership elected in accordance with the law.

We are aware that a public interest law firm, Ojichukwu & Livingfaith Partners, through it’s Managing Partner, Mr. Michael O. Okorie, Esq has petitioned the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN to intervene and cancel the illegal election of Engr. Professor. Saqiq Z. Abubakar and Engr. Olu Ogunduyile as President and Vice-President of Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria as both are not duly appointed members of the Council as required by the relevant law, but they still smuggled into the Council by the immediate past President and his cohorts without Presidential or Ministerial approval as required by law.

The group said, in the interest of sustenance of ethical standards, professionalism and rule of law in the engineering profession as well as public interest, lend support in calling on the Minister to urgently address the petition and intervene to ensure that the leadership of COREN is elected and constituted in accordance with the law. The request for the minister’s intervention will show a commitment to address the rising cases of engineering malpractices that contribute to building collapses and other project failures.

We commend the Minister’s disposition to the upholding of ethical standards, professionalism and rule of law as the supervising Minister of the Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria. And we believe the Minister will not standby and allow the enthronement of illegality in the leadership of the Council in particular regards to the currently elected President and Vice President who are not qualified to stand election as they are not duly appointed members of the Council.

We call on the Minister to immediately investigate these allegations and take necessary action, Adamu said.

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NYCN: High Court Bars Gbenga, others from holding election

Published

7 hours ago

October 7, 2025

The Gleamer

Josl Ajayi

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has issued an order restraining Comrade Ademola Gbenga, Comrade Okechukwu Nnamene and others from conducting the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) election slated for October 7, pending the determination of the substantive suit before the court.

Justice J. E. Obanor, in an order dated October 6, 2025, in suit no: FCT/HC/CV/3803/2025 and motion no: M/12204/2025, sighted by our correspondent, directed the Inspector General of Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to enforce the court’s order.

The claimants/applicants in the case are the Incorporated Trustees of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) and Ambassador Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo, representing the existing leadership of the Council.

The defendants include Comr. Ademola Gbenga, Comr. Okechukwu Nnamene, Comr. Abel Abaji, Comr. Alex Allen Akin, Comr. Hassan Mamman, the Inspector General of Police, and the Department of State Services.

It would be recalled that the NYCN, during its National Elective Convention held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, from September 20 to 22, re-elected Ambassador Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo as President alongside other executives.

However, dissatisfied with the Sukubo-led leadership, Gbenga and his allies formed a parallel group and planned to conduct another election in Abuja on October 7.

Consequently, the court ordered all parties to maintain the status quo regarding the leadership of the NYCN, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

The Order read in part, “Upon hearing the Motion Ex parte and the accompanying affidavit of. Amb. Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo listening to P. Ulofu ESQ., of counsel to the Applicants praying this Honourable Court for the following:-

“An Order of Interim Injunction restraining the Respondents (Gbenga and others) or any person(s) acting through them or on their behalf from conducting the scheduled election of the 7th day of October, 2025 or taking any further step concerning the subject matter of this suit respectively pending the hearing and determination of the motion on Notice.

“An Order of Interim Injunction directing the Respondents to maintain the status quo with respect to the leadership of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, pending the determination of and determination of the motion on notice.

“An Order directing the 6th (IGP) and 7th (DSS) Defendants/Respondents to enforce the Order of Court restraining the 1st to 5th (Gbenga and others) Defendants, their privies, agents, or howsoever called, conducting the scheduled election of the 7 th day of October, 2025 or taking any further step concerning the subject matter of this suit respectively pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

“And for such further or other orders as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this suit and or application.

“The court ordered as follows: Application is hereby granted and order made as prayed. Case is adjourned to 16th October, 2025 for hearing of Motion on Notice.”

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