Fourteen students of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State have been remanded in prison custody over the violent protest that rocked the institution on Monday, January 22, 2018.
The students including 13 males and one female were arrested by the Police during a violent protest that rocked the institution.
The crux of the violent protest was the decision of the management of the institution to introduce the policy of payment of school fees before semester examination.
The students of the state-owned polytechnic that kicked against the action of the management, trooped out of the examination hall condemning the no school payment, no examination policy of the institution.
The students took to the main Akure / Owo road, blocking the major road and causing traffic gridlock on the ever busy road.
The aggrieved students who were sent out from their various examination halls for nonpayment of school fees later destroyed properties worth millions of naira in the campus, including the Information Communication Technology (ICT) centre in the institution.
It, however, took the combined efforts of the security operatives in the town and the leadership of the student union in the school to stop the rampaging students.
However, the students were yesterday brought before the Chief Magistrate Court -II sitting at the GRA in the town, with Charge No: MOW/20C/2018 on a three-count charge of conspiracy, the felony to wit stealing and malicious damage.
The suspects included Lukman Arowolo 21,Iyanuoluwa Gift 21, Olayinka Oyewole 21, Aladejebi Temitope 35, Oluwadare Gbenga 26, Japhet Samuel 21, Ayeni Samuel 24, Lawrence Monday 2 4,Titus Felix 22, Emmanuel Segun 23, Ayeni Temitope 21, Ayeni Trust 23, Olayinka Olalekan 17, and Ayomide Opeyemi 21.
The Police Prosecutor, Sergeant Edu Owolabi told the court that, offences of the suspects are contrary and punishable under Sections 516, 390(9) and 451of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Volume. 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
All the suspects pleaded not guilty and Sergeant Owolabi opposed their bail as pleaded by their defence counsel.
Ruling on the bail application, the Presiding Magistrate, Mr. Sunday Adedapo said, he would deliver his ruling on the bail application on the next adjournment date.
He fixed the ruling on the bail application February 5, 2018.
