Osun: NANS Southwest Demands Alalade’s Court Arraignment Within 24 Hours or Immediate Release
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Southwest Zone has given the Osun State Police Command a 24-hour ultimatum to either charge Comrade Bukola Felix Alalade, popularly known as Machiavelli, to court or release him.
The demand was contained in a press statement jointly signed by the Zone’s Coordinator, Comrade Josiah Adeyemo; General Secretary, Comrade Babatunde Ojetola; and Public Relations Officer, Comrade Timothy Olugbemi, and sent to Daily Sun on Tuesday.
NANS said it noted the police statement on the arrest and continued detention of Alalade, a former NANS JCC Osun PRO and alumnus of the University of Ilesa.
According to the student body, his wife said police operatives arrived at their residence at about 1:00 a.m., allegedly forced their way in and took him away.
He was first traced to the Area Command in Ilesa before being transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Osogbo.
The police alleged that Alalade was connected to a violent incident during a political procession and claimed video evidence exists.
“Our position is straightforward: If such evidence exists, place it before a competent court and prosecute him according to law,” NANS stated.
The zone said during engagements at the command, “No such material was presented to me. The mere existence of an allegation cannot become a substitute for judicial scrutiny or an excuse for prolonged detention.”
NANS said it acknowledges the police responsibility to investigate crime, but will not accept “a situation where allegation gradually becomes punishment through continued detention without the intervention of a court.”
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“An allegation is not a conviction. An investigation is not a sentence,” the statement said.
The body called on the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu to take interest in the matter and ensure the Osun Command acts “strictly within the law, professionally and without political influence,” especially with Osun approaching a sensitive election.
It stressed that its intervention has nothing to do with Alalade’s employment or political association.
“He is one of us… Our concern is that a recognised student leader must enjoy the same due process guaranteed to every Nigerian citizen.”
NANS’ position, according to the statement: “Within the next 24 hours, either bring Comrade Alalade Bukola Felix ‘Machiavelli’ before a competent court and place the allegations and available evidence before the judiciary, or release him in accordance with the law.”
The students also called on the Commissioner of Police, Osun State, and senior officers overseeing election security to demonstrate fairness and professionalism.
The zone warned that “Should this situation continue without lawful judicial intervention or satisfactory resolution, NANS will consult its structures and commence lawful, peaceful and organised mass action to demand respect for due process and the fundamental rights of one of our own.”
“We remain non-partisan. We will neither defend wrongdoing nor obstruct a legitimate criminal investigation. But neither will we sit idle while political tension becomes an excuse for the rights of student leaders to be disregarded,” the statement further reads.
