Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Bola Ajibola has narrated how a man who wanted to demolish his institution, Crescent University, died mysteriously before he could carry out his threat.
The 85-year-old Ajibola established the university in 2005 but revealed, in an interview with Vanguard published on Sunday, how a man laid claim to the land on which it was established.
The former judge of the International Court of Justice said that the man took bulldozers to the site to pull down the buildings but died mysteriously days before he could execute his plan.
Speaking about the challenges he encountered in setting up the university, Ajibola said, “Initially, we had plans to establish the university at Wasimi but, unfortunately, there were some people who opposed our idea of bringing a university there, so we jettisoned the idea of setting up at Wasimi. Along the line, someone reminded me of the fact that I have a landed property where the university is now located. We took Prof. Okebukola, then Executive Secretary of NUC, and his team to the site and we got an approval to establish the university there.
“While construction was still going on, somebody came from Lagos on a Saturday with a number of bulldozers which were used in blocking the entrance to the site. He said the land belonged to him and he was to start an industry there. He said the bulldozers were brought to pull down all the buildings we had constructed and that work will start the following Monday. Immediately, I went to the police with all necessary documents and they were getting ready to meet him on Monday but he didn’t show up because he died on Sunday. I never met him and that was the end of that problem. Besides, we have had issues with the accreditation of courses but we have been able to overcome those challenges.”
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The octogenarian also reminisced about his presidential treat by the King of Jordan years back.
He said, “I was on a visit to Egypt and I met an American who is also a Muslim. He was happy to see me and he started telling me all he had heard about me. He then went to tell the King of Jordan about me, especially how I have used my money to run Islamic Movement for Africa (IMA) and Crescent University. To confirm all he said about my exploits, the King sent some people to Nigeria to confirm all that I have achieved through IMA. They were surprised with all they saw and they remarked that they never believed there is an honest person in Nigeria based on all they have heard about Nigerians until they met me. Upon their return to Jordan, the King sent me an invitation. I was given a presidential welcome and an award involving $50,000. I was then sponsored on a trip to Jericho and Jerusalem before I returned to Nigeria. It was an experience which I will never forget.”