Olanipekun Pleads with UNILORIN on Expelled Students
From Tunde Sanni in Ilorin
Immediate past President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Wole Olani-pekun (SAN), weekend pleaded with the authorities of University of Ilorin to have a second look on the case of the expelled Students Union activists of the institution.
Olanipekun said this at a book launch, "The Jurist," in his honour by the University's Law Students Society (LSS). He specifically appealed with the Professor Shamsudeen Amali-led management to review the case of the students which included Segun Modamori, a 500 level law student of the university who was then the Students Union President.
Students' uprising during his tenure had led to the closure of the institution, the proscription of Students Union, the expulsion of Modamori and 17 other activists found culpable in the crisis. Interestingly, the Union Vice President, Laide Sagaya, survived the big hammer. She however got a session rustication.
The former NBA boss submitted that the offences for which the activists were persecuted were such that could be forgiven.
But the University's Vice Chancellor, who graced the occasion, recalled the demonstration which created restiveness in the management quarters and regretted that certain university and some other personal properties were burnt during the protest but evaded comments on the plea of the legal luminary.
He however frowned at the incident which was led by the president who was doing law degree and exuded happiness that the other law students have since put behind them the stain of the demonstration and have remained outstanding in their discipline and academic performance.
Delving into the confines of law, Olanipekun noted that the offences of the students were not criminal in nature and as such could be granted pardon.
He remarked that the students have learnt their lessons from the misdeeds and would never incite their colleagues to uprising again against the management.
"I would like to plead that the university authority reconsider their case. They have committed what in law would be reffered to as a misdemeanor and that is not a crime. I humbly plead on their behalf that you should pardon them and overlook their offences," he explained.
He commended the management of the university for the prevailing calm, serenity and peaceful atmosphere that engender a conducive atmosphere for learning
Olanipekun thanked the law students for the honour and announced an undisclosed amount of money for the faculty to purchase a bus.
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