▪ Festus Ogun reacts, says School management should be happy and proud of them
Four students of the Olabisi Onabanjo Universitynamely; Michael Adenola, Yinka Oyesomi, Adetunji Fisayo (Functionist) and Alawode Afolabi were arrested yesterday 5th of August 2019 in Abeokuta for joining the ongoing #RevolutionNow protest.
Campus Mirror learnt that they have spent a night in the prison and are currently detained by the Nigeria Police in Abeokuta, Ogun state.
Recall that Mohammed Adamu, the Inspector General of Police, had labelled the protest as an act of terrorism.
He warned that anyone arrested in connection with the protest would be charged with a treasonable felony.
Based on this, the affected students may risk suspension or even explusion going by the University's code of conduct which addresses consequences of a student who is arrested or charged to court for a criminal case.
The OOU Code of conduct provides that, "Any student found to be standing trial for criminal cases in any Law Court, shall a) Pending the determination of the case in court, be suspended from the university. b) If convicted – be Expelled from the University..."
Meanwhile, a Student activist and LSS President, Festus Ogun has condemned the arrest adding that they were only "exercising their right and painting democracy".
According to him, "You have the right to peaceful assembly, you have the right to protest, you have the right of expression."
"On our part, we are taking all legal means. We've spoken to our lawyers, they are on set working tirelessly putting all legal means in place to ensure their freedom", he said.
Commenting further, Ogun said that he is confident that the University Management will not suspend the affected students.
"The school management can and I even trust them that they will not suspend them. Infact, the school manangement should be proud of them and be happy that students are doing things like this."
"It's the things that they taught us in class that we are showing", he said while noting that anyone can be arrested.
Quoting Section 36 (5) of the Constitution, Ogun argued that "you can only suspend a student who has been convicted" noting that they are still innocent and can't be suspended in such a manner.
"It marks unfairness, it marks injustice, it is unlawful and it is just another way of punishing a student who has done nothing wrong"
"The comrades here, they are in high spirit, they are undaunted, they aren't afraid, they are unpertubed, they are not bothered about anything they are only bothered about the future of the country."
"I know the School management, the vice-chancellor, Deputy Vice Chancellor, the registrar of the school, Senate; all of them will be happy by now that these students are making them proud."
Meanwhile, as at the time of this report, the SUG President, Akinbo Afolabi (Kempes) denied awareness of the incident.
By Oluwatola Oluwaluyi
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