OAU students released after one week in prison

Obafemi Awolowo University students, who were arrested and prosecuted for allegedly assaulting a university worker have gained freedom after spending one week at Koshere Prison, Ile-Ife.

Two of the students, Gbenga Oloruniran, a 400 level student of Geography and Jimoh Oladipupo, 300 level student of Biochemistry were reportedly released on Thursday, March 29, 2018.

Meanwhile, three of them, Olajide Ademola, a 500 level student of Electrical Electronics; Oyedeji Samson, 300 level student of Pharmacy; and Adeniji John, 300 level student of Electrical Electronics Engineering were released earlier on Tuesday, March 27, 2018.

Recall that the five students were arraigned on Thursday, March 22, at the Ife Magistrate Court 24 hours after the university management reportedly handed them over to the police following the accusation the university management levied against them.

The school authorities on Wednesday, March 21, 2018, accused the students of assaulting university officials, who were instructed to clean and evict female students from Moremi hall, which was said to have been marked for renovation.

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According to reports, while the university workers were carrying out the instructions, a confrontation erupted between the students and the university officials and that led to the students' arrest.

However, as part of their bail condition, the students were asked to pay N500,000 bond and provision of two sureties, who must be civil servants of level 11 and above as well as taxpayers.

Meanwhile, OAU management has been widely criticised by civil groups and staff of the university for prosecuting its own students.

A group, Education Rights Campaign (ERC) on Sunday, March 25, 2018, criticised OAU authorities and demanded an unconditional release of five students.

Reacting to the criticisms from the group, the university management issued a statement on Wednesday saying the students were arrested and arraigned for protesting an alleged illegal eviction of students from their hostels.