The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has criticised the remand of the immediate past Students’ Union Government (SUG) President of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Comrade Adio, describing the development as a serious miscarriage of justice and pledging to pursue lawful measures to secure what it termed a fair hearing.
In an official statement issued by the National President of NANS, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, the student body said it had received reports that a Magistrate Court in Ekiti State ordered the remand of the former student leader in connection with proceedings that, according to the association, originated from a case he personally brought before the court.
NANS expressed concern over the circumstances surrounding the court’s decision, stating that information available to the association indicated that Comrade Adio was the complainant in the matter and was not facing any criminal charge at the time the case was initiated.
The association alleged that the proceedings later took an unexpected turn, leading to his remand through the involvement of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the presiding magistrate. Describing the development as inconsistent with the principles of due process, NANS argued that the action amounted to an infringement of the former student leader’s constitutional rights.
While these allegations have been made by the student body, the court and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions had not publicly responded to the claims at the time of filing this report.
Following the development, the national leadership of NANS announced plans to mobilise its members within Ekiti State for peaceful demonstrations. According to the statement, the National President directed the NANS Joint Campus Council (JCC) Chairman for the Ekiti Axis, alongside the association’s National Head of Administration, to coordinate lawful advocacy activities demanding the release of the former FUOYE SUG President.
The proposed actions, the association said, will include peaceful protests at the Ekiti State High Court, the Magistrate Court and the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions. NANS maintained that the demonstrations would remain within the confines of the law while drawing attention to what it considers a violation of the rights of one of its members.
The student organisation reaffirmed its commitment to defending the welfare and legal rights of students across Nigeria, stressing that it would continue to engage relevant authorities whenever it believes justice or due process has been compromised.
Legal experts note that under Nigeria’s justice system, parties dissatisfied with judicial decisions have constitutional avenues to seek redress, including appeals and applications before higher courts. They also emphasise the importance of allowing judicial processes to proceed independently while ensuring that the rights of all parties are protected.
The unfolding case is expected to attract attention within the higher education community, particularly among student leaders and rights advocates, as developments continue in the coming days. Further official responses from the judiciary, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions or other relevant authorities may provide additional clarity on the circumstances surrounding the remand and the legal issues raised by NANS.
