The University of Lagos, on Tuesday, said the thirteen students remanded in prison “for unlawful invasion and disruption of activities” at TVC station in Lagos, are not students of the school.
The students were protesting the recent rustication of a visually impaired student, Lawrence Success, as well as those earlier suspended for the roles they played in a protest that led to the closure of the institution last year for three weeks.
However, a statement issued by the Deputy Registrar (Information), Mr Toyin Adebule, said the protesters were mostly “rusticated students”. It said students who have been rusticated by the university are not considered “bona fide students” since they would normally be required to apply for “re-admission” at the expiration of their suspension.
“The Information Unit, University of Lagos, hereby states that the 13 students remanded by the court as reported by different newspaper tabloids and electronic publications to be UNILAG students are not students of the Institution. These “students” comprise of rusticated students and some students from an institution in Ogun State.
“Let us emphasise here that the rusticated students are requested to apply for re-admission after serving their punishment. Until re-absorption, they are not considered bona fide students of the University.”
Adebule said contrary to insinuations in some reports, the visually impaired student who was also rusticated was never targeted because of his condition.
He said, “The disciplinary action taken against a visually impaired student was in accordance with the Senate-approved Social Misconduct and Penalties Regulation of the University. Let us assure you that the student in question was in no form victimised for his visual impairment.
“A lot of brilliant, law abiding and serious students (either physically challenged or not) have passed through this citadel of learning since inception and most of them are making waves in their respective endeavours. We are proud of them.”
The students were remanded in Kirikiri prisons, as April 6 was set for the hearing of their bail application.
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