A former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in Ekiti State, Comrade Adeolu Oyebode, widely known by the alias “Luther,” has warned against any attempt to use the student body to oppose the activities of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations involving criminal suspects.
Oyebo gave the warning in a statement posted on his verified Facebook page while reacting to reports that some individuals were mobilising support from NANS to stage a protest against the anti-graft agency in Ekiti State.
He said NANS was established to promote students’ welfare, social justice and accountability, stressing that the association should not be used to shield individuals facing allegations of financial crimes or other criminal offences.
According to him, although the association had members from different backgrounds during his tenure, it never encouraged criminality or defended social vices.
Oyebode also expressed concern over allegations that some criminal elements were using NANS revolutionary plate numbers to disguise themselves as activists and evade suspicion.
While noting that he could not independently verify the claims, he urged relevant security agencies to investigate the allegations if credible evidence was available.
The former student leader recalled that vehicles used by NANS during his administration were largely donated by the state government and public-spirited individuals to support legitimate union activities, including meetings, advocacy and mobilisation.
He added that most student leaders at the time could not afford personal vehicles, as many struggled to pay their school fees and came from modest backgrounds.
Oyebode, however, acknowledged that some students today could legitimately earn substantial incomes through remote jobs or come from affluent families.
He maintained that any student leader whose lifestyle could not be reasonably linked to a legitimate source of income should be subjected to scrutiny.
He further warned against alleged attempts by internet fraudsters and other criminal elements to pressure NANS into organising anti-EFCC protests, insisting that the association must not be used to obstruct lawful investigations into offences such as fraud, kidnapping, money laundering and ritual-related crimes.
According to him, any attempt to deploy NANS to frustrate the statutory responsibilities of the EFCC would raise serious questions about whose interests the association was protecting.
Oyebode reaffirmed that NANS must remain committed to its founding ideals of defending students’ rights, promoting good governance and serving the public interest, rather than becoming a refuge for criminal elements.
Discover more from Rootedscope Media
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
