The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has announced plans to stage peaceful protests in Ekiti State over the remand of the immediate past Students’ Union Government President of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), James Adio.
In a statement released on Monday, NANS National President Akinteye Babatunde described the court’s decision as a miscarriage of justice, alleging that Adio was remanded in connection with a case he personally filed before a Magistrate Court in Ekiti State.
According to the student body, Adio was the complainant in the matter and had no criminal charges pending against him. NANS accused the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the presiding magistrate of allegedly turning the case against the former student leader.
The association condemned the development, describing it as a violation of due process and Adio’s fundamental rights.
Akinteye said NANS had directed its Joint Campus Committee Chairman for the Ekiti Axis and the National Head of Administration to mobilise students for peaceful demonstrations at the Ekiti State High Court, the Magistrate Court, and the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions until Adio is released and justice is served.
He reaffirmed the association’s commitment to protecting the rights of Nigerian students and ensuring that justice prevails.
In a separate open letter addressed to Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji, the Chief Judge, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, NANS Head of Administration Owolewa Taiwo alleged that Adio had approached the court after private, consensual moments between him and another adult were secretly recorded and circulated on social media without his consent.
The association said the case, which it described as involving alleged cyberbullying and the unlawful publication of private content, was diverted during proceedings before Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun of the Magistrate Court in Fajuyi, Ado-Ekiti.
According to NANS, the magistrate allegedly focused on the private conduct of the parties rather than the cyberbullying complaint and subsequently ordered the remand of Adio alongside the defendants until August 4, 2026.
The group further claimed that officials from the Ekiti State Ministry of Justice argued in court that FUOYE treated the parties differently by suspending only the female involved while allowing Adio to continue his examinations.
However, NANS maintained that Adio’s legal team presented documents showing his earlier suspension was unrelated to the case and that he had since been cleared and reinstated by the university senate.
The association also alleged that the principal defendant had repeatedly visited the Ministry of Justice before the court proceedings, raising concerns about the neutrality of the prosecution and the judicial process.
NANS has called for the immediate withdrawal of Magistrate Adeosun from the case, its reassignment to another judge, an independent review of Adio’s remand, and an investigation into the conduct of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Director of Citizenship Rights.
The student body warned that it would petition the National Judicial Council and other relevant disciplinary authorities if its demands are not addressed.
As of the time of reporting, the Ekiti State Ministry of Justice had not responded to the allegations made by NANS.
