The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has threatened to picket the Ekiti State High Court, Magistrate Court and the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) over the remand of the immediate past Students’ Union Government President of the Federal University Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), Comrade Adio.
In a statement issued on Monday, the National President of NANS, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, said he had been briefed that the former student leader was remanded in prison over a matter he personally instituted before the court.
According to Akinteye, information available to the association indicates that Comrade Adio was the complainant in the case and had no criminal charges pending against him. He alleged that the proceedings were turned against the former SUG President through the actions of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the presiding Magistrate.
The NANS President described the alleged development as “judicial rascality”, a gross abuse of due process and a violation of the fundamental rights of the former student leader. He maintained that the association would not remain silent while the rights of Nigerian students were allegedly undermined.
Akinteye disclosed that he had directed the NANS Joint Campus Committee (JCC) Chairman for Ekiti Axis and the association’s National Head of Administration to commence mobilisation for peaceful actions.
According to him, the planned activities will include picketing the Ekiti State High Court, the Magistrate Court and the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions through lawful protests until Comrade Adio is released and justice is served.
He reaffirmed NANS’ commitment to the defence of justice, the rule of law and the fundamental rights of Nigerian students, insisting that the association would continue to pursue lawful means to ensure that the rights of its members are protected.
