Workers of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, staged a protest on Wednesday against the Ondo State Police Command over its alleged refusal to comply with a court order concerning a vehicle belonging to their union.
The protesters, members of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities, FUTA chapter, claimed that a Chief Magistrate Court in January 2025 ordered the police to return the vehicle to the union — a directive they allege has been ignored.
During the demonstration on campus, the aggrieved workers carried placards bearing slogans such as: “Enough is enough, Ondo police should leave NASU FUTA,” “Ondo State Police has become an agent of crisis,” and “Federal Government should save us, Ondo State police want to kill us.”
Speaking at the protest, NASU FUTA Chairman Mr Adebayo Aladerotohun accused the police of interfering in union affairs and disregarding the court’s directive.
“We are voicing our grievances over the Ondo State Police Command’s intrusion into our union matters,” he said. “It is well known that issues of association fall outside the jurisdiction of the Nigerian Police.”
Aladerotohun explained that the police seized the union’s vehicle in June 2024 following a dispute involving a faction claiming to have taken over the union.
“Some unidentified individuals approached the police, claiming ownership of the union’s property. We informed the police that this was unlawful and that only the court could adjudicate such matters,” he added.
He further stated that the union later obtained a court order directing the police to park the vehicle in front of NASU’s Secretariat, but the police allegedly defied this order by handing the vehicle over to unknown persons.
“We still held the keys and vehicle documents, yet the police proceeded to give the car to individuals unknown to us, in blatant disregard of the court order,” he said.
The union has called on the Inspector General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, to intervene and compel the Ondo State Police Command to comply with the court order.
However, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Olayinka Alayande, denied the allegations, insisting that the police complied with the court’s directive.
“The court ordered that the vehicle be released to the Secretariat, and that was done. It was not handed over to any individual,” Alayande stated.
He advised, “If the protesters are dissatisfied with the situation, they should follow the appropriate legal channels. I urge them to remain peaceful and avoid any actions that could disrupt law and order, as the command will not tolerate such behaviour.”
