NANS Mobilises Ekiti Students for Protest Over Remand of Former FUOYE SUG President

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has commenced mobilisation for peaceful protests in Ekiti State following the remand of the immediate past Students’ Union Government President of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), James Adio.

NANS National President, Akinteye Babatunde, announced the planned action in a statement on Monday, describing Adio’s remand as a miscarriage of justice and alleging that the former student leader was remanded in connection with a case he had originally instituted before a Magistrate Court in the state.

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

He said the development was disturbing because, based on information available to the association, the case allegedly shifted from the original complaint to issues involving Adio himself.

NANS consequently directed its Joint Campus Committee Chairman for the Ekiti Axis and its National Head of Administration to commence mobilisation for peaceful demonstrations.

The association said the protests would include lawful actions at the Ekiti State High Court, the Magistrate Court and the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, with the aim of demanding justice and Adio’s release.

What led to the court case?

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, provided further details of the association’s allegations.

NANS claimed that Adio had approached the court after private and consensual moments between him and another adult were allegedly recorded and circulated on social media without his consent.

The association said the case centred on alleged cyberbullying and the unlawful publication of private media.

However, NANS alleged that the focus of the proceedings before Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun of the Magistrate Court, Fajuyi, Ado-Ekiti, shifted from the alleged cyberbullying complaint to the private conduct of the parties involved.

The association claimed that Adio and the defendants were subsequently ordered to remain in remand custody until August 4, 2026.

NANS alleges concerns over prosecution

NANS further alleged that officials from the Ekiti State Ministry of Justice raised issues concerning the treatment of the parties by FUOYE.

According to the association, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Akinlabi O.O., and the Director of Citizenship Rights, H.A. Adeyemi, argued during proceedings that the university had treated the parties differently by suspending only the female involved while allowing Adio to sit for his examinations.

NANS, however, said Adio’s lawyers produced records indicating that his earlier suspension was unrelated to the matter before the court.

The association further claimed that Adio had subsequently been exonerated and reinstated by the university senate.

NANS also alleged that the principal defendant in the case had made repeated visits to the Ministry of Justice before the proceedings, raising what the student body described as concerns about the neutrality of the judicial process.

These allegations have not been independently established.

NANS demands reassignment of case

Against the backdrop of the controversy, NANS called for the immediate recusal of Magistrate Adeosun from the matter and the reassignment of the case to another judge.

The association also demanded 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.

NANS warned that failure to address its demands would compel the association to petition the National Judicial Council and other relevant disciplinary bodies over the alleged conduct of the judicial officers involved.

The association said it remained committed to defending the rights of Nigerian students and promoting justice and the rule of law.

As of the time of filing this report, the Ekiti State Ministry of Justice had not publicly responded to the allegations contained in the NANS statement and open letter.

The development is expected to attract further attention as NANS proceeds with its planned mobilisation and as the legal process surrounding Adio’s remand continues.