Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has ordered the release of what he called authentic students of Ambrose Alli University, AAU, Ekpoma, who were remanded at Ubiaja prison on the order of a state High Court, sitting in Benin City, following their arraignment by the police.
The students allegedly took part in the Ekpoma anti-kidnapping protest that turned violent, in Esan West Local Government Area of the state
The governor also claimed that a Nigerian based in Russia sponsored the protest.
This came as families of the students, lamented the continued detention of their children over their alleged participation in last Saturday’s anti-kidnapping protest that turned violent.
Also, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has condemned the arrest and detention of the 52 students, demanding their immediate release.
Rabi Braimah, whose son and friends, Yusuf Abdulrahman, Godstime Omonhe and Nosa Destiny were among the 52 people remanded said they were told that the state high court in Ubiaja, Esan South-East Local Government of the state, where they were remanded did not sit.
She said the wards were picked from their hostels and that they did not participate in the protest.
“They told us that the court will not sit today (yesterday) and that it is when they start sitting they will attend to them (detained students). My brother said he has contacted a lawyer.”
Another family member, who refused to give his name said his brother was among those remanded and that their lawyer would come from Benin City to file the necessary papers.
The Principal Registrar of the state high court, Ubiaja, Mrs. Comfort Agbonire said they were expecting the police prosecutor from Benin City to formally hand over the remand papers to the court and then lawyers to the students can file their applications.
She said the court did not sit, yesterday because it lost two lawyers.
Okpebholo orders release of students
Meanwhile, about 1:20p.m., yesterday, the Commissioner for Education, Paddy Iyamu, accompanied by the President, Students Union of AAU, Osadebamwen Ehizioje said he had been directed by Governor Okpebholo to liaise with the prison authority and release all bonafide students of AAU.
