NANS Demands Prosecution Of Colleagues Who Allegedly Beat OAU Finalist To Death
OSOGBO – The National Association Of Nigerian Students (NANS) has demanded justice over the death of a 500-level student of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, Okoli Ahize who was lynched to death for alleged phone theft.
It was reported that the incident occurred on Monday at the Awolowo Hall of Residence of the institution.
The deceased was said to be a Part 5 student of the Department of Civil Engineering.
In a statement by NANS National Deputy Senate President, the students’ body noted that its preliminary investigation revealed that the death of the student was a result of mismanagement of the case that could have been best handled in the most lawful means.
Elvis maintained that, the student’s body would not condone any form of criminality while agitating for qualitative education and a conducive environment for learning.
“We maintain that it was very wrong to have called the security unit of the university to convey the deceased to the health centre before he gave up the ghost, rather, the leadership of the Students’ Union should have, handed him over to the security committee of Awolowo Hall where the theft was alleged to have taken place, and from there should have been immediately taken to the Health Centre for necessary treatment considering the injury he suffered as a result of the beaten.
“While interacting with the CP, CP Kehinde Longe, who invited the OC Homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation Department to also brief us on their efforts to date, we made our stand known that we shall not in any way stand in the way of justice and that we shall cooperate and partner with the Police to ensure that everyone involved in the murder is brought to justice.”
He continued, “Yes, the deed has been done, but the only justice we can secure for the dead is that it is done right so that others will deter from doing the same.
“We have given the Police the responsibility of making sure that individuals who received the deceased at the Students’ Union Building are invited and questioned because this will aid the inquiry.
“Considering the provisions of the criminal code which mandate one to prevent, keeping the students in custody for close to 8 hours before he passed away is in itself culpable considering the obvious fact that he needed medical attention as a result of the beating he had received while at Awolowo Hall.”
He, however, bemoaned the disastrous end of jungle justice, adding that it should never be heard on campuses.
