Benin — Authorities of the University of Benin (UniBen) have instituted a legal action against the Edo State government over the eviction of staff of the institution from the Government Reservation Area (GRA) in Benin-City.

A statement by the university's Public Relations Officer, Mr. Harrison Osarenren, said the institution has filed an interlocutory injunction restraining the Edo State government, its agents, servants or privies from evicting its staff from the aforementioned area, pending hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

The statement added that when the Federal Government took over the University of Benin in 1974, the government of Brig-Gen. Samuel Ogbemudia, at that time, handed over the property to the university, and that the gesture was well communicated to it on September 3, 1974, by the authorities of the Ministry of Education, Benin-City.

"Sadly, since the inception of the current administration of Edo State government under the leadership of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the university has been faced with numerous threats of dispossession of property earlier given to it as gifts," the institution said.

Hearing in the suit has been fixed for March 5, 2013 at the Edo State High Court.