The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), South-West Zone, has given the Osun State Police Command 24 hours to either charge a detained former student leader, Comrade Alalade Bukola Felix, popularly known as “Machiavelli,” before a competent court or release him.
NANS, in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Comrade Olugbemi T. Timothy; General Secretary, Comrade Ojetola Babatunde Y.; and Coordinator, Comrade Adeyemo Josiah, said the demand followed Alalade’s continued detention over an alleged violent incident during a political procession.
The group said its representatives had visited the Osun State Police Command in Osogbo to seek clarification on the circumstances surrounding his arrest.
According to the statement, Alalade’s wife alleged that police operatives arrived at their residence at about 1:00 a.m., forced their way into the house and took him away. He was reportedly first taken to the Area Command in Ilesa before being transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Osogbo.
The police have alleged that Alalade was connected to a violent incident during a political procession and that video evidence exists.
However, NANS said no such material was presented to its representatives during their engagement with the command.
The association acknowledged the police’s responsibility to investigate suspected offences but said prolonged detention must not become punishment without judicial intervention.
“An allegation is not a conviction. An investigation is not a sentence,” the statement said.
NANS called on the Inspector-General of Police to urgently intervene and ensure that the Osun State Police Command handles the matter strictly within the law and without political influence.
The group also expressed concern over the development coming ahead of the Osun governorship election, saying public confidence in the neutrality of security agencies must be protected.
It stressed that its intervention was not connected to Alalade’s political association or relationship with any government official, describing him as “one of us” and a former NANS JCC Osun PRO and Convention Planning Committee Chairman.
The three NANS officers said the association remained non-partisan and would neither defend wrongdoing nor obstruct a legitimate criminal investigation.
“Our position is simple: Within the next 24 hours, either bring Comrade Alalade Bukola Felix ‘Machiavelli’ before a competent court and place the allegations and available evidence before the judiciary, or release him in accordance with the law,” they said.
They warned that if the detention continued without lawful judicial intervention or satisfactory resolution, NANS would consult its structures and commence “lawful, peaceful and organised mass action” to demand respect for due process.
“Investigate if you must. Prosecute if you have evidence. But let the law, not allegation, determine guilt,” the officers said.