Student union body to stage demonstration against detention of former FUOYE student leader

n n

The National Association of Nigerian Students has directed its members in Ekiti State to begin mobilisation for peaceful protests following the remand of the immediate past Students’ Union Government President of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, James Adio.

n

In a statement issued on Monday, the National President of NANS, Akinteye Babatunde, described the remand as a miscarriage of justice, alleging that the former student leader was imprisoned over a matter he personally instituted before a Magistrate Court in Ekiti State.

n

According to Akinteye, Adio was the complainant in the case and had no criminal charges against him.

n

“I have just been briefed that the Magistrate Court in Ekiti State has remanded the immediate past FUOYE SUG President, Comrade Adio, in prison over a matter that he personally instituted before the court.

n

“From the facts available to us, Comrade Adio was the complainant and had no criminal case against him. It is therefore deeply disturbing that the matter was allegedly turned against him through the actions of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions and the presiding Magistrate,” the statement read.

n

The student body condemned the development, describing it as “judicial rascality, a gross abuse of due process, and a violation of Comrade Adio’s fundamental rights.”

n

The NANS president said he had directed the association’s Joint Campus Committee Chairman for the Ekiti Axis and the National Head of Administration to commence mobilisation for peaceful demonstrations.

n

“In response to this development, I have immediately directed the NANS JCC Chairman, Ekiti Axis, and the NANS National Head of Administration to begin mobilisation. Peaceful actions will be taken to demand justice, including lawful protests at the Ekiti State High Court, the Magistrate Court, and the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions until Comrade Adio is released and justice is served,” Akinteye said.

n

He added that the association would continue to defend the rights of Nigerian students.

n

“The National Association of Nigerian Students 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 added.

n

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 Head of Administration, Owolewa Taiwo, alleged that Adio approached the court after private, consensual moments between him and another adult were allegedly recorded and circulated on social media without his consent.

n

The association claimed the case, which it said centred on alleged cyberbullying and unlawful publication of private media, was diverted from its original subject during proceedings before Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun of the Magistrate Court, Fajuyi, Ado-Ekiti.

n

According to NANS, the magistrate allegedly focused on the private conduct of the parties rather than the cyberbullying complaint and subsequently ordered the remand of Adio alongside the defendants until August 4, 2026.

n

The association further alleged that the Director of Public Prosecutions, Akinlabi O.O., and the Director of Citizenship Rights, H.A. Adeyemi, argued during the proceedings that the Federal University Oye-Ekiti treated the parties differently by suspending only the female involved while allowing Adio to sit for his examinations.

n

However, NANS maintained that Adio’s legal team presented records showing his earlier suspension was unrelated to the matter before the court and that he had since been exonerated and reinstated by the university senate.

n

The association also alleged that the principal defendant in the case had made repeated visits to the Ministry of Justice before the court proceedings, claiming the actions of the prosecution and the court suggested a loss of judicial neutrality.

n

Consequently, NANS called for the immediate recusal of Magistrate Adeosun from the matter, reassignment of the case to another judge, an independent review of Adio’s remand order, and an investigation into the conduct of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Director of Citizenship Rights.

n

It warned that if its demands were not addressed, it would petition the National Judicial Council and other relevant disciplinary bodies over the conduct of the judicial officers involved.

n

As of the time of filing this report, the Ekiti State Ministry of Justice had yet to respond to the allegations contained in the NANS statement and open letter.

n n