Law News
Court frees 22 students as ABUAD withdraws case

A Magistrate’s court in Ado Ekiti on Monday evening struck out the criminal charge filed against 22 students of the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, over the February 7 protest in the school.

The court struck out the case after the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Gbenga Daramola, withdrew the case against the students.

The matter was initially adjourned till February 25 for hearing.

But the DPP informed the court on Monday that the students’ parents had written a letter of apology to the management of the institution.

He added that the management of the school had consented to withdraw the criminal charges against the students based on the letter of apology and affidavit of facts admitting their involvement in the incident.

The court, however, remanded five of the students in police custody pending legal advice from the office of the DPP.

It was gathered that the parent of one of them had yet to sign the letter of apology and affidavit of facts.

Responding, the defence team, led by Mr. Chris Omokhafe, thanked the management of the institution and the DPP for withdrawing the charges against their clients.

He also thanked the court for sitting after the closing hours in order to see that the students were released from prison having being kept there for over three weeks.

Omokhafe prayed the court to order the police to allow the parents of the students to have access to them at the police custody.

The Chief Magistrate, Adesoji Adegboye, thereby struck out the charges and discharged the students accordingly.

The magistrate urged the DPO of the Odo Ado Police Station to allow the parents to have access to their children while in police custody.

The students were charged for 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 Sections 443(a), 411(2) and 403 of the Criminal Code, Cap C 16, Laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria, 2016.

They were also charged for a separate six-count including rioting, unlawful possession of firearms and malicious damage.

The alleged offences contravene sections 516, 451 and 109 of the Criminal Code, Cap C 16, Laws of Ekiti State 2012.

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