EKPOMA, EDO STATE – The Ekpoma Judicial Division of the High Court has become the frontline in a burgeoning battle for civil liberties following the mass arrest and continued detention of over a hundred students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU).
At the heart of the legal firestorm is a Fundamental Rights Enforcement suit filed by Mr. Lifted Oyinbo Edubamo and Mr. Igoh Ayano Christopher. The duo, representing the “AAU Comrade Community,” have been languishing in police cells since January 22, 2026—all for the “crime” of delivering a formal petition to the University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Admin), Prof. Andrew O. Eromosele.
The Siege on Student Activism
The lawsuit paints a grim picture of “collective punishment” and “state-sponsored victimization.” While the applicants are seeking their immediate and unconditional release, the broader student body is reeling from a crackdown that has seen scores of students remanded.
Counsel for the applicants is demanding N20 million in damages, arguing that the police—under the direction of university authorities—have bypassed the rule of law to settle administrative scores. The suit contends that the detention is a retaliatory strike designed to paralyze student advocacy on campus.
Legal Spotlight: Why This Matters (The Constitution vs. The Crackdown)
To help our readers understand the gravity of this case, the Standard Daily Press highlights the specific sections of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) that the Respondents are accused of breaching:
Section 34: Right to Dignity of Human Person
The Law: Every individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person. No person shall be subjected to torture or inhuman/degrading treatment.
The Breach: Holding students in cramped cells for weeks without trial is a direct violation of their human dignity.
Section 35: Right to Personal Liberty
The Law: No person shall be deprived of their liberty except as permitted by law (e.g., a court order). Anyone arrested must be brought before a court within a “reasonable time” (24 to 48 hours).
The Breach: The applicants have been held since January 22 without a warrant or arraignment, far exceeding the constitutional limit.
Section 36: Right to Fair Hearing
The Law: In the determination of a person’s civil rights and obligations, a person shall be entitled to a fair hearing within a reasonable time by a court or other tribunal.
The Breach: By detaining the students without charging them with a known offense, the authorities have denied them the chance to defend themselves before a judge.
”Service is Not a Crime”
The court processes emphasize a chilling precedent: “Service of a petition is not an offense known to law.” The Applicants argue that if a student can be jailed for merely delivering a letter to a public official, then the “citadel of learning” has been transformed into a “citadel of intimidation.”
The Respondents, including the Edo State Commissioner of Police and Prof. Andrew O. Eromosele, are expected to file their responses as the court prepares to hear the motion. For the hundred-plus students currently behind bars, the outcome of this case will determine whether the Constitution still guards the gates of Ambrose Alli University.
