The Edo State Government’s decision to transfer many public schools to the Catholic Mission has prompted the Edo Muslims for Good Governance (EMGG) to take the government to court.
The group contends that the 1999 Constitution, which provides freedom of religion and protection against discrimination, is violated in the lawsuit, designated HAG/15/2025. EMGG maintains that Muslim stakeholders and other religious groups were not consulted by the government prior to the decision.
St. Maria Goretti Girls Grammar School in Benin City, Obaseki Primary School in Benin City, Annunciation Catholic College in Irrua, and St. Angela’s Girls Grammar School in Uzairue are among the schools impacted.
Additionally, the group is against the proposed transfer of 36 more public schools to the Catholic Mission, claiming that this action is discriminatory and does not have legislative permission.
The state government’s transfer of any public school to a religious organization without due process and equitable treatment for all religions is what EMGG is requesting the court to prevent. The state government’s attorney informed the court during the hearing that they had not yet submitted a response to the lawsuit.
For a follow-up hearing, Justice Ovenseri Aghamieghen Otameri postponed the case to December 9, 2025.
