Afe Babalola University, Ado – Ekiti (ABUAD) had been in the
News since a protest by the students of the institution turned violent on the
7th February, 2016. The protest was marred with destroying of cars and other
school properties. It was revealed that the protest emanated when students
learnt that some unknown men who covered their faces with bandannas stormed a
female hostel. But some students also claimed a policeman mistakenly shot and
injured a student, leading to the protest. Meanwhile the school authority
condemned the protest, revealing that the protest was orchestrated by students
with poor academic performance.
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| Image showing the disrupted vicinity of the school |
The intervention of the riot police lead to the arrest of
some students of the institution, and these students were charged to court. The
Police prosecutor, Mr. Samuel Osobu, during the court hearing on Wednesday 10th
February disclosed that the police had accused the students of an attempt to
rob a branch of WEMA bank in the institution. In addition, Osoba alleged that
the students on February 7, unlawfully committed the offence of arson by
burning houses belonging to ABUAD University Security Staff and burglary of a
boutique belonging to the wife of the ABUAD founder. Due to the date of
adjournment pending the advice of the DPP office sought after by the counsel to
the students. The Chief magistrate Adesoji Adegboye consequently ordered that
the accused be remanded in prison custody pending the outcome of the DPP
advice. He adjourned the case till February 19th for further hearing.
Thereafter, the authorities of the Afe Babalola University,
Ado-Ekiti debunked claims by a parent that a cult group recruited from a
polytechnic by a sister-in-law to the ABUAD Founder and Chancellor, Chief Afe
Babalola (SAN), carried out the February 7 riot in the institution.
In reaction to this, the school authority described the
claim by the parent as “false, malicious, deliberate and intended to change the
world reputation the university has built in its six years of existence.”
The Head Corporate Affairs, Tunde Olofintila told the Punch
Newspaper correspondent that “all the students arrested were from the
University.”
“No foreign student was among them.” He added.
Rumour has it that there were peace moves between the
parents and the authority of ABUAD.
The Parents/Teachers consultative forum of ABUAD through its
Vice-President, Prof. Olusegun Oladimeji in a meeting with the management of
the University in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday
had commended the institution for taking a step of an “uncommon maturity and
understanding” by not closing down their institution at the slightest
provocation.
In response, the chancellor of the University, Aare Afe
Babalola revealed that he has decided not to impose a compulsory levy on all
the students because it won’t be fair as only 200 students out of a total
student population of well over 6,000 disturbed the peace of the institution.
He further said; “I established this University for a
purpose: to make a difference, to show how a university should be run and to
make the students better than I am. But what a negligible few of the students have
done will not and cannot shift our focus, neither will it discourage us. We have
put our hands on the plough of quality and fundamental education, we will not
look back”.
In the latest development, The Director of Public Prosecution, Mr. Gbenga Adaramola, has taken over the criminal case filed by the police against 31 students of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti.
The students had protested on February 7, 2016 on accounts of alleged victimisation and highhandedness by the institution, including the recent hiking of tuition by the management.
Last year, the university hiked the fees of its 400 Level medical students from N1.7m to N2.6m. abuad is a private university established by renowned lawyer, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN). Meanwhile, Adaramola entered his appearance at the resumed hearing of the trial on Friday.
At the last sitting, Chief Magistrate Adesoji Adegboye had adjourned the matter for legal advice following an
application by the police prosecutor, Caleb Leramo.
But at the resumed hearing on Friday, the DPP told the court that there were peace moves between parents and complainant.
“If the peace deals failed, we would proceed with the trial at the next hearing,” he said.
Responding, one of the defence counsel, Chris Omokhafe, accused the prosecution of deceiving parents with the submission.
He expressed surprise that the DPP took over the prosecution after parents, according to him, have signed
undertakings with the complainant.
He urged the DPP to conclude his legal advice on time, hence, the hearing should commence.
The students were accused of an alleged attempt to rob a branch of Wema Bank in the institution.
The police alleged that the students on February 7 unlawfully committed the offence of arson by burning houses belonging to abuad University security staff and burglary of a boutique belonging to the wife of the abuad founder.
The alleged offences contravene Section 443(a), 411(2) and 403 of the criminal code, Cap C 16, Laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria, 2016.
They are also facing a separate six-count charge including rioting, possession of firearms and malicious damage.
The alleged offence contravenes Section 516,451 and 109 of the criminal Code, Cap C 16,Laws of Ekiti State 2012.
Meanwhile, the Education Rights Campaign has called for the unconditional release of the arrested students.
In a statement issued by ERC on Friday, its national coordinator, Hassan Taiwo Soweto, and national secretary, Michael Ogundele, called for a probe into the activities of the institution.
***Turn Table
Source: Punch
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