By Leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students have reacted to the continuous detention of some students of the University of Lagos at the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prisons, Lagos following an invasion at a television station.
The students were remanded by the order of a mobile court which heard their case on Saturday.
The accused persons, standing trial before Chief Magistrate P.E. Nwaka, were alleged to have engaged in unlawful invasion of Television Continental in Magodo area of Lagos State.
They were arraigned on a two-count charge of unlawful invasion and disruption of activities and have all pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge.
The accused are: Femi Adeyeye, Toni Aina, Kodri Yaya, Asimi Oladime, Ismahim Olalekan, Segun Okesola, Abdulazeez Soneye, Idris Abogunloko, and Muyiwa Olaniyi.
Others are: Toheed Oladimeji, Joseph Akanni, Lukumon Olusegun, and Abiodun Agbeniyi.
The magistrate, who ordered that the accused be remanded in prison, adjourned the case till April 6 for a determination of their bail.
But the President of NANS, Chinonso Obasi, yesterday, in Abuja, condemned the action of the court which remanded the students in Kirikiri prisons.
He threatened to relocate the association’s headquarters to the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons in solidarity with its members, should government continued to keep them in captivity.
He said, “After a painstaking review of the circumstances surrounding the draconian ruling, we have resolved to demand and hereby demand the unconditional release of these students within 24 hours.
“Consequently, we make bold to state that if at the expiration of our 24 hours ultimatum, these innocent students are not released without strings, we shall relocate the Headquarters of NANS to Kirikiri in solidarity with our members.
“We also hope that the authorities would use the opportunity of the 24 hours ultimatum to either expand the facilities of Kirikiri prison or release our colleagues, as they can see we are serious and determined.
