The Students of Rochas Foundation College in Sokoto state have appealed to the Federal Government of Nigeria to facilitate the freedom of the founder of the school, Senator Rochas Okorocha.
They made the appeal during the celebration of this year’s International Children’s Day organized by the school, on Friday, in Sokoto.
The appeal for Okorocha’s release dominated this year’s Children’s Day celebration in the college, showcasing that the founder had made an impact on their lives.
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Yusuf Muhammad, a Senior Secondary 2 student, said Okorocha, who was recently arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) was a good and visionary father.
Muhammad noted that keeping the founder in custody beyond 48 hours had breached his fundamental human rights.
The school head girl, Faiziya Usman, said that she, along with many less privileged children, had no opportunity to attend formal school until Okorocha rescued them by enrolling in the college.
Other students, Zainab Imam and Chinaza Gift-Euro expressed concern that keeping the founder of their college behind bars for too long will affect their educational pursuits.
They explained that the majority of the students whose only hope of acquiring education was through the free education offered by the Rochas foundation college, might be endangered.
Okorocha was accused of alleged corruption that led to his arrest by EFCC.
A Federal High Court, Abuja had earlier refused to grant him bail.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, instead, ordered Mr Okorocha, through his lawyer, Ola Olanipekun, to put the anti-graft agency on notice.
Mr Olanipekun had, in an ex-parte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CR/28/2022, prayed the court to grant Mr Okorocha bail on liberal terms pending the hearing and determination of motion on notice filed on May 25.
The ex-parte motion was dated and filed May 26.
But Justice Ekwo held that since the matter would be coming up on Monday, making an order for the release of the lawmaker on bail would be unnecessary.
The senior lawyer also hinted that he had also filed a motion on notice, seeking for his client’s bail.
The judge, who fixed May 30 for the hearing of the motions, directed the lawyer to put the EFCC on notice.
