The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has announced plans to stage peaceful protests in Ekiti State following the remand of the immediate past President of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), James Adio.
In a statement issued on Monday, NANS National President, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde, described the remand as a “miscarriage of justice” and directed the association’s Joint Campus Committee (JCC) in Ekiti State and its National Head of Administration to begin mobilisation for peaceful demonstrations.
According to the student body, Adio was the complainant in the matter before a Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti and was not initially facing any criminal charge. NANS alleged that the proceedings later resulted in his remand through the actions of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the presiding magistrate.
The association condemned the development, alleging that it amounted to a violation of due process and Adio’s fundamental rights.
Babatunde said the planned demonstrations would be held at the Ekiti State High Court, the Magistrate Court and the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, insisting that the protests would remain peaceful and lawful.
“NANS will not stand by while the rights of Nigerian students are trampled upon. We remain committed to defending justice, the rule of law and the fundamental rights of every Nigerian student,” the statement said.
In a separate open letter addressed to Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji, the state’s Chief Judge and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, NANS called for Adio’s immediate release, the reassignment of the case to another magistrate, and an independent review of the remand order.
The association further alleged that the case stemmed from a complaint filed by Adio over the alleged unlawful recording and circulation of his private content without his consent. It claimed the focus of the proceedings shifted away from the original complaint, culminating in the remand order.
NANS also called for an investigation into the conduct of officials involved in the prosecution and warned that it would petition the National Judicial Council and other relevant authorities if its concerns were not addressed.
As of the time of filing this report, the Ekiti State Ministry of Justice and the judiciary had not publicly responded to the allegations raised by the student body. The court’s remand order remains in force pending further proceedings.
The development comes weeks after NANS intervened in issues surrounding Adio’s suspension as FUOYE SUG president, with the association consistently calling for due process in the handling of disciplinary and legal matters involving the former student leader.
