Battered pictures of Folashade
Leshi, a student of Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic, Ijebu Igbo, Ogun
State, went viral on the Internet last week when she was beaten by
soldiers. SAMUEL AWOYINFA, writes on the incident.
Leshi, a student of Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic, Ijebu Igbo, Ogun
State, went viral on the Internet last week when she was beaten by
soldiers. SAMUEL AWOYINFA, writes on the incident.
The National Association of Ogun State
Students has called for a thorough investigation into the incident that
led to the assault of their female colleague, Ms. Folashade Leshi.
Students has called for a thorough investigation into the incident that
led to the assault of their female colleague, Ms. Folashade Leshi.
Leshi, a student of the Abraham Adesanya
Polytechnic, Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State, was reportedly battered by two
soldiers attached to the polytechnic on April 18.
Polytechnic, Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State, was reportedly battered by two
soldiers attached to the polytechnic on April 18.
The student sustained injuries and was subsequently denied entry into the school to sit for the semester examinations.
According to Leshi, Ordinary National
Diploma II student of Mass Communication, she had prepared for her
examination and was on her way to the hall when she was stopped by the
soldiers.
Diploma II student of Mass Communication, she had prepared for her
examination and was on her way to the hall when she was stopped by the
soldiers.
At the time the incident occurred,
students in the Ordinary National Diploma II and Higher National Diploma
II were sitting for their semester examination.
students in the Ordinary National Diploma II and Higher National Diploma
II were sitting for their semester examination.
Leshi said, “I came to school on Monday
morning hoping to pay the damage fee we were mandated to pay before we
could sit for any paper. Apart from schooling, I am also a businesswoman
and I had embarked on a trip to Abuja. I was not able to pay before the
exam took place but all of us who had yet to pay and without pass, were
prevented from entering the school premises.”
morning hoping to pay the damage fee we were mandated to pay before we
could sit for any paper. Apart from schooling, I am also a businesswoman
and I had embarked on a trip to Abuja. I was not able to pay before the
exam took place but all of us who had yet to pay and without pass, were
prevented from entering the school premises.”
“We were all outside the gate and I sat
on the pavement. Suddenly, the security men said we should all leave.
But I was trying to explain to them that I had my money on me and I
wanted to pay, for me to sit for the examination, but this fell on deaf
ears.
on the pavement. Suddenly, the security men said we should all leave.
But I was trying to explain to them that I had my money on me and I
wanted to pay, for me to sit for the examination, but this fell on deaf
ears.
“Others fled and as I was trying to pack
my things so that I could also leave, one of the soldiers threatened to
use a whip on me, saying that I was stupid. I had to reply him that
that was an uncouth word to use on me as a married woman.”
my things so that I could also leave, one of the soldiers threatened to
use a whip on me, saying that I was stupid. I had to reply him that
that was an uncouth word to use on me as a married woman.”
Leshi further said the soldiers inflicted injuries on her.
She said, “I don’t lie, and I told him
that if he dared touch me, he would face the consequence, because I know
a lot of influential people. By then, some colleagues were hailing me
but I did not know why they were doing that. That must have infuriated
the soldiers and two of them descended on me with their whips.
that if he dared touch me, he would face the consequence, because I know
a lot of influential people. By then, some colleagues were hailing me
but I did not know why they were doing that. That must have infuriated
the soldiers and two of them descended on me with their whips.
“One of them used a thick wire while the
other used a thin one. But as the whipping became too much and I was
falling down, I held onto the uniform of one of them, in the process,
the buttons pulled out and his uniform was torn.
other used a thin one. But as the whipping became too much and I was
falling down, I held onto the uniform of one of them, in the process,
the buttons pulled out and his uniform was torn.
In a statement signed by the national
coordinator of the Ogun State Students Association, Ifemosu Adewale, the
student body called for the appropriate authorities to bring the
soldiers to book.
coordinator of the Ogun State Students Association, Ifemosu Adewale, the
student body called for the appropriate authorities to bring the
soldiers to book.
The statement read, “It is so
disheartening, barbaric and is a rape of democracy, when security
operatives, who are assigned to maintain law and order in the state, are
the ones molesting and infringing on the rights of students; leading to
a massive brutalisation cum damages.
disheartening, barbaric and is a rape of democracy, when security
operatives, who are assigned to maintain law and order in the state, are
the ones molesting and infringing on the rights of students; leading to
a massive brutalisation cum damages.
“Also, we were informed that the police
station where the student was referred to by the Rector, detained a
dying student, who had suffered a lot of injuries and lost a lot of
blood due to pregnancy miscarriage.”
station where the student was referred to by the Rector, detained a
dying student, who had suffered a lot of injuries and lost a lot of
blood due to pregnancy miscarriage.”
The statement urged the authorities not to sweep the matter under the carpet.
It said, “Many a times, such acts have
been swept under the carpet and victims are made to suffer in vain, this
would not happen in this case, as we would take this up to the highest
point to ensure that justice prevails.”
been swept under the carpet and victims are made to suffer in vain, this
would not happen in this case, as we would take this up to the highest
point to ensure that justice prevails.”
Also reacting to Leshi’s plight, the
Executive Director, Civil Liberties, Comrade Ibichukwu Ezike, said
soldiers and other law enforcement agents have no right to torture
civilians.
Executive Director, Civil Liberties, Comrade Ibichukwu Ezike, said
soldiers and other law enforcement agents have no right to torture
civilians.
He said, “The victim, which is the lady
involved, has a right to sue whoever tortured her. She has a good case;
torture is outlawed all over the world. It is a criminal act, a very
serious issue not only in Nigeria. If someone resists arrest” there are
other ways to get him or her to answer questions before the law.
However, I advise people against resisting arrest. Rather than resisting
arrest, you could resist making statement until you see your lawyer.
involved, has a right to sue whoever tortured her. She has a good case;
torture is outlawed all over the world. It is a criminal act, a very
serious issue not only in Nigeria. If someone resists arrest” there are
other ways to get him or her to answer questions before the law.
However, I advise people against resisting arrest. Rather than resisting
arrest, you could resist making statement until you see your lawyer.
“Meanwhile, the National Human Rights
Commission should live up to its responsibilities. Anyone found caught
torturing another person should be brought before the law. They should
not be allowed to go scot-free. Human rights organisations should also
step up their act.”
Commission should live up to its responsibilities. Anyone found caught
torturing another person should be brought before the law. They should
not be allowed to go scot-free. Human rights organisations should also
step up their act.”
Similarly, the Executive Chairman,
Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, Mr. Debo Adeniran, said any one
tortured could take his or her case to court.
Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, Mr. Debo Adeniran, said any one
tortured could take his or her case to court.
He said, “She has a case in court,
because no one has the right to torture. No one has the right to take
laws into his or her hands, no matter how powerful the person is. It is
only the court that has the right to place punishment on anyone. Also,
the military mentality should be taken away from our officers. Even if
someone commits an offence, there are different ways to arrest the
person rather than brutalise the person. Torture is criminal act.”
because no one has the right to torture. No one has the right to take
laws into his or her hands, no matter how powerful the person is. It is
only the court that has the right to place punishment on anyone. Also,
the military mentality should be taken away from our officers. Even if
someone commits an offence, there are different ways to arrest the
person rather than brutalise the person. Torture is criminal act.”
Leshi said she still felt pains all over her body and has been spending money on drugs.
She said, “Since I wore a sleeveless top
and a pair of jeans trousers, they concentrated on my arms, thighs,
back and below my busts.”
and a pair of jeans trousers, they concentrated on my arms, thighs,
back and below my busts.”
Narrating that she was taken to the Divisional Police headquarters in Ijebu Igbo, Leshi said she was detained till 10pm.
“I was later released on bail by the
help of a traditional ruler in the area. I never knew him; perhaps my
colleagues went to him. I was really humiliated and embarrassed,” she
said.
help of a traditional ruler in the area. I never knew him; perhaps my
colleagues went to him. I was really humiliated and embarrassed,” she
said.
However, the school authorities said
Leshi was quite unruly and her behaviour fell short of good character.
They argued that the students were given enough time to pay the damage
fee, but she and others in her category treated it with levity.
Leshi was quite unruly and her behaviour fell short of good character.
They argued that the students were given enough time to pay the damage
fee, but she and others in her category treated it with levity.
The institution’s Rector, Prof. (Mrs.)
Jumoke Bilesanmi-Awoderu, said she heard that a student had torn the
uniform of two soldiers at the entrance of the school. According to her,
she had to invite the student involved— Folashade and the men of the
Operation Mesa, whose uniforms were torn. After she made the student to
write a statement in her office, she referred the case to the Divisional
police headquarters at Ijebu Igbo.
Jumoke Bilesanmi-Awoderu, said she heard that a student had torn the
uniform of two soldiers at the entrance of the school. According to her,
she had to invite the student involved— Folashade and the men of the
Operation Mesa, whose uniforms were torn. After she made the student to
write a statement in her office, she referred the case to the Divisional
police headquarters at Ijebu Igbo.
She said, “On that Monday morning, everything was set for continuation of the examination that was disrupted in March.
“I was sitting in my office attending to
official matters when I got a report that a student got unruly at the
gate and tore the uniforms of two soldiers. I never knew what transpired
between them at the gate.
official matters when I got a report that a student got unruly at the
gate and tore the uniforms of two soldiers. I never knew what transpired
between them at the gate.
“But I later got to find out that the
girl was Oladokun Leshi Folashade. I had to call the Dean, Students’
Affairs, and they brought the lady to me.
girl was Oladokun Leshi Folashade. I had to call the Dean, Students’
Affairs, and they brought the lady to me.
“And she told me that one of the
soldiers said she was stupid, and she told him she was someone’s wife,
and he should stop that. One thing led to the other, and she tore the
uniforms of two of them.
soldiers said she was stupid, and she told him she was someone’s wife,
and he should stop that. One thing led to the other, and she tore the
uniforms of two of them.
“We had to inform the Divisional Police
Officer at Topon, Ijebu Igbo about the incident, and they are carrying
out their investigations.”
Officer at Topon, Ijebu Igbo about the incident, and they are carrying
out their investigations.”
According to the Rector, the school’s
ICT Centre and part of another building had been torched by some angry
students earlier in the year and this made the school authorities, after
consultation with the supervising ministry, to send the students home
and shut the school for one month and later re-opened.
ICT Centre and part of another building had been torched by some angry
students earlier in the year and this made the school authorities, after
consultation with the supervising ministry, to send the students home
and shut the school for one month and later re-opened.
She said, “However, each of the students
were expected to pay damage fee of N5,000 each, bring an undertaking
letter of good behaviour from either of the parents or a guardian, after
which a pass, to write the examination would be issued.
were expected to pay damage fee of N5,000 each, bring an undertaking
letter of good behaviour from either of the parents or a guardian, after
which a pass, to write the examination would be issued.
“This was expected to have been done by
the students concerned between Monday, April 11 – Friday 15, while the
examination would commence on Monday 18th.But some students who had not
paid their school fees, either the full payment or at least 70 per cent
of the total sum, were disallowed by school authorities, as required by
the school’s regulation, from sitting for the examination.
the students concerned between Monday, April 11 – Friday 15, while the
examination would commence on Monday 18th.But some students who had not
paid their school fees, either the full payment or at least 70 per cent
of the total sum, were disallowed by school authorities, as required by
the school’s regulation, from sitting for the examination.
“The response from students was slow,
and I had to extend payment till Saturday April 16. But some of the
students missed the deadline. All those who had not paid were not
allowed into the school premises and the men of the Operation Mesa were
at the gate, monitoring the situation.
and I had to extend payment till Saturday April 16. But some of the
students missed the deadline. All those who had not paid were not
allowed into the school premises and the men of the Operation Mesa were
at the gate, monitoring the situation.
Continuing, the rector said, “I was told
that at a point, scores of the students had gathered in front of the
gate, they were restive and the soldiers wanted to disperse them. I was
told Folashade resisted.”
that at a point, scores of the students had gathered in front of the
gate, they were restive and the soldiers wanted to disperse them. I was
told Folashade resisted.”
However, Leshi put a call through to our
correspondent last Wednesday. Sounding scared, she said she had been
summoned to appear before a Disciplinary Committee on Friday.
correspondent last Wednesday. Sounding scared, she said she had been
summoned to appear before a Disciplinary Committee on Friday.