The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has directed its members across Ekiti State to begin mobilisation for peaceful protests following the remand of the immediate past Students’ Union Government (SUG) President of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), James Adio.
The students’ body described the development as a grave miscarriage of justice, insisting that Adio was remanded despite being the complainant in the matter before a Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti.
In a statement issued on Monday, NANS National President, Akinteye Babatunde, expressed concern over the court’s decision, alleging that the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the presiding magistrate turned the case against the former student leader.
According to Babatunde, Adio had instituted the legal action and was not facing any criminal charges.
“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.
“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,” he said.
NANS condemned the remand, describing it as judicial rascality, a violation of due process and an infringement on Adio’s fundamental rights.
The association announced plans to stage peaceful demonstrations at key judicial institutions in Ekiti State to press for his release.
Babatunde said he had instructed the NANS Joint Campus Committee (JCC) Chairman for the Ekiti Axis and the association’s National Head of Administration to commence mobilisation immediately.
He disclosed that the planned protests would be held at the Ekiti State High Court, the Magistrate Court and the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions until justice is served.
“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,” he added.
Meanwhile, in an open letter addressed to Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji, the state’s Chief Judge and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, NANS National Head of Administration, Owolewa Taiwo, provided further details of the dispute.
According to the letter, Adio approached the court after what the association described as private, consensual moments between him and another adult were allegedly recorded and circulated on social media without his consent.
NANS maintained that the case originally centred on allegations of cyberbullying and the unlawful publication of private media but claimed that proceedings before Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun at the Magistrate Court in Fajuyi, Ado-Ekiti, shifted focus to the personal conduct of those involved.
The association alleged that the magistrate subsequently ordered the remand of Adio alongside the defendants until August 4, 2026.
It further claimed that during the proceedings, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Akinlabi O.O., and the Director of Citizenship Rights, H.A. Adeyemi, argued that FUOYE treated the parties differently by suspending only the female involved while permitting Adio to complete his examinations.
However, NANS insisted that Adio’s legal team presented evidence showing his previous suspension was unrelated to the ongoing case and that he had since been cleared and reinstated by the university’s Senate.
The student body also alleged that the principal defendant made repeated visits to the Ministry of Justice before the hearing, raising concerns over the impartiality of the prosecution and the judicial process.
Consequently, NANS demanded the immediate recusal of Magistrate Adeosun from the case, reassignment of the matter 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.
The association warned that it would petition the National Judicial Council and other relevant disciplinary authorities if its demands were not met.
