News

Students Responsible for OAU Finalist’s Death Must Be Prosecuted, NANS Insists

Published

2 years ago

April 20, 2023

Eric

The National Association of Nigerian Students has called for the prosecution of students allegedly involved in the death of a 500-level student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Okoli Ahinze, who was reportedly mobbed to death for alleged theft.

The students’ body stressed that those involved in the mob action should be identified and brought to justice.

Ahinze was mobbed to death for alleged phone theft.

PUNCH had earlier reported that the deceased was beaten by the mob inside the Awolowo Hall and was said to have been rushed to the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Ile-Ife after complications.

It was gathered that the student was alleged to have stolen a mobile phone at Awo Hall.

Reacting, the student’s body in a statement signed by its national Public Relations Officer, Giwa Yisa Temitope, frowned against the jungle justice reportedly meted on the deceased by the mob.

Temitope, while describing the action as shameful, stressed that the body will not relent until justice is served.

The statement read in part, “During our interaction with the Dean, Division of Students’ Affairs and the CSO of the institution, we got to understand that the death was a result of mismanagement of a case that could have been best handled in the most lawful means.

“We were also told that as against the information making rounds, at no point was the Quick Response Squad of the University called upon to convey the deceased to the health centre before he gave up the ghost.

“In fact, as a students’ body which frowns against criminality in every form of it, we maintain that it was very wrong to have called the security unit of the University to convey the deceased to the health centre before he gave up the ghost, rather, the leadership of the Students’ Union should have, upon been handed over to by the security committee of Awolowo Hall where the theft was alleged to have taken place immediately take him to the health centre for necessary treatment to be administered on him considering the injury he has suffered as a result of the beaten he got at Awolowo Hall.

“On his thigh is a very deep cut and what appears to be the use of an object to inscribe O on his thigh.

“While interacting with the CP, Mr Kehinde Longe, who invited the OC Homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation Department to also brief us on their efforts so far, we made our stance known that we shall not in any way stand in the way of justice and that we shall collaborate and cooperate with the institution of the Police to ensure that everyone involved in the murder is brought to justice.”

Temitope further noted, “The deed has been done but the only favour we can do to the memory of the dead is to ensure that justice is served appropriately in order to serve as deterrence for others.

“We have tasked the institution of the Police to ensure that those the deceased was handed over to at the Students’ Union Building be invited and interrogated too as it will assist in the cause of investigation.

“Keeping the student in custody for close to eight hours before he gave up the ghost despite the obvious fact that he needed medical attention as a result of the beating he was offered while at Awolowo Hall is in itself culpability considering the provisions of the Criminal Code which mandates one to prevent the commission of a crime so far it’s within one’s power. Right now, a crime has been committed.

“Once again, we state that we frown against every form of jungle justice, not even on our campuses. Mob means people and everyone involved in that shameful and criminal act must be identified and brought to justice.

“Great Ife remains the bastion of vibrant and virile students’ unionism in Nigeria and the interests of the students must prevail.”

The Punch

News

Obi Has Offered to Meet Farotimi’s Bail, Says Tanko Yunusa

Published

4 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Eric

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Mr. Peter Obi, has offered to meet the bail conditions of human rights lawyer, Mr. Dele Farotimi, according a statement by Tanko Yunusa, on X.

An Ekiti court has said Farotimi can be released on bail in a case where he’s accused of damaging Afe Babalola’s reputation.

The bail requirements are as follows: N30 million bond, two people to vouch for him (and one must own a house), give up his passport, and agree not to talk to the media.

Yunusa, who is an ally of the former presidential candidate, wrote that Obi believes in following the law and wants to see this situation resolved in a way that works for everyone.

Yunusa quoted Obi’s offer directly: “I consulted His Excellency, Peter Obi, as the leader of the Obidient Movement. As a respecter of the rule of law, due process, and order, he offered to take Dele Farotimi on the bail conditions.”

Yunusa also mentioned that Obi thanked the courts and everyone involved, saying Obi wants to see the situation resolved fairly for all parties while respecting the legal system.

News

Ekiti Court Grants Dele Farotimi N30m Bail

Published

24 hours ago

December 20, 2024

Eric

A magistrates’ court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, has granted N30 million bail to embattled lawyer and human rights activist Dele Farotimi.

At the hearing of the bail application on Friday, Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun ruled in favour of Farotimi’s bail request.

The magistrate stipulated that the bail conditions included two responsible sureties and required Farotimi to surrender his international passport to the court. Additionally, he was instructed not to grant media interviews while the case was ongoing.

The Ekiti Police Command had arraigned Farotimi following a petition from an elder statesman and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Afe Babalola, who accused the activist of criminally defaming him in his recently-released book.

News

Ooni Commiserates With Families of Slain Ibadan Stampede Children, Stands with Embattled Ex-wife

Published

1 day ago

December 20, 2024

Eric

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has commiserated with the families whose children died in the stampede during a funfair in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Wednesday.

“We share in the grief and pains that have engulfed the affected families. We pray that Olodumare grants them the fortitude to bear this trying time,” the monarch’s spokesman Moses Olafare said in a statement on Thursday.

At least 35 persons have been confirmed dead in a stampede that occurred at the Islamic High School, Basorun, Ibadan venue of the family event organised by Wings Foundation owned by a former queen at the Ooni’s Palace, Naomi Ogunseyi.

The police have arrested the ex-wife of the monarch and seven others for their various involvements in the funfair.

The police said the case has been transferred to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku with a Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge leading the investigation.

Ooni’s spokesman expressed sympathy with the Government of Oyo State and the families of the children whose lives were lost in the tragedy.

The Palace also showed solidarity with the ex-queen, saying she genuinely cared for children and organised similar events in Osun State when she was queen.

The Palace spokesman said, “While at the Ile Oodua here as a queen, Miss Naomi Silekuola Ogunseyi demonstrated love and care to the children of Ile-Ife through similar events which she executed passionately to give succour to children of indigent parents every December period like this.

“The House of Oduduwa pledges to support all efforts aimed at bringing solace and healing to those affected by this devastating loss.

“The House of Oduduwa calls for immediate actions to prevent such unfortunate incidents in the future, emphasizing the need for rigorous adherence to safety standards and child welfare policies in educational institutions.”

“While the situation calls for solemn reflection and collective responsibility, we would want to express dismay at the unprofessional conduct of some bloggers who have chosen to sensationalize the tragic incident rather than uphold journalistic integrity.

“The House of Oduduwa encourages all stakeholders, from government officials to the media and citizens, to unite in compassion and constructive dialogue. Let us honour the memories of the departed by fostering a culture of care, respect, and accountability in our communities,” the statement added.