By Sunmola Olowookere
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Fourteen students of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO) who were standing trial before a High Court sitting in Akure have been let off the hook.
The students who could not hide their joy leapt for joy as they filed out of the courtroom following the dismissal of their case by the trial judge.
The presiding Judge, Justice Samuel Bola dismissed a case of conspiracy, malicious damage and stealing brought against the students at the sitting of the court yesterday.
The name of the students are; Lukman Arowolo, Iyanuoluwa Gift, Olayinka Oyewole, Aladejebi Temitope, Oluwadare Gbenga, Japhet Samuel, Ayeni Samuel, Lawrence Monday, Titus Felix, Emmanuel Segun, Ayeni Temitope, Ayeni Trust, Olayinka Olalekan and Ayomide Adeleye.
The dismissal of their trial was sequel to the withdrawal of the charges brought against them by the Ondo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Adekola Olawoye ( SAN).
The Justice Commissioner in a letter written to the court, stated that he had chosen to exercise his powers of discontinuance after a careful and thoughtful consideration of the facts of the case, while citing the relevant section of the law.
It would be recalled that the students were charged to court, after they were reported at Police Area Command, Owo, by the school’s Chief Security Officer, Amos Ifedayo, for their alleged involvement in unleashing violence in the school.
Trouble had reportedly erupted when the school effected a “no payment, no examination” policy and the students reacted violently, embarking on wanton destruction of school’s properties, running into millions of naira.
Part of the property destroyed belonged to the staff of the school.
Some of the students on rampage were alleged to have stolen the school property and consequently arrested by the school’s security guards in the process.
The 14 students who were discharged by the court were arrested in connection with the crime.
