Renowned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has strongly condemned the illegal arrest of students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, calling on the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adebayo Bamire, to uphold the legacy of academic freedom established by his predecessors.
Falana, in a statement, expressed deep concern over the violation of students’ rights, emphasizing that universities should remain safe spaces for intellectual discourse and activism rather than environments of intimidation. He urged the university administration to respect democratic principles and ensure that students are not subjected to unlawful detention for exercising their rights.
The senior advocate reminded the Vice-Chancellor of the progressive stance taken by past OAU leaders who protected students’ freedoms, fostering an atmosphere where ideas could flourish without fear of repression. He called for an immediate review of the circumstances surrounding the arrests and demanded that justice be served to prevent future occurrences.
Falana further urged the authorities to engage in dialogue with student representatives rather than resorting to heavy-handed tactics that undermine the institution’s reputation as a beacon of academic excellence and free thought.