The Zone D Wing of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has suspended its Public Relations Officer CPRO), Opeoluwa Awoyinfa, over alleged sexual assault.

Awoyinfa is a 500-level student of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Ondo State.

This was contained in a statement made available toThe Guardian in Ibadan, yesterday, by its co-coordinator, Emmanuel Olatunji Adegboye.

The Deputy Coordinator of the Zone, John Alao, who confirmed the suspension, said the Zone has immediately set up a committee to review the allegation of sexual assault and blackmail against the said individual and get back to the zone with a comprehensive and unbiased report within the next five working days.

The Zone said it frowned on sexual assault and other social vices, even as it had in recent times frequently campaigned against sexual assault and other vices in the zone and the country at large.

He said: ‘’The attention of the leadership of NANS Zone D (Southwest) has been drawn to disturbing news trending on social media, involving one FUTA 500-level student who was said to have been drugged, sexually abused and subsequently filmed for blackmail purpose.

“As a Zone with the sincere love of Nigerian students at heart, the zone hereby suspends Opeoluwa Awoyinfa, with immediate effect, pending the determination of the allegation against him.

‘’The Zone has immediately set up a committee to holistically review the allegations against the said individual, and get back to the zone with a comprehensive and unbiased report within the next five working days.

‘’The five-man committee appointed to conduct the said discreet investigation on the subject matter are: Surprise Omotosho (Ondo NANS JCC chairman), Abidemi Adeleke (Oyo NANS JCC chairman), Abiodun Ibiyemi (FUTA SUG President), Omotola Temikotan (Director of Gender, NANS Zone D) and Joel Taiwo (Ondo NAUS Chairman).”

At press time, the PRO could not be reached as his mobile telephone number was switched off.
MEANWHILE, Oyo State Gaming and Lottery Board has shut down three gaming and lottery centres without operational licences within the state.

The three gaming centres that were sealed by the enforcement team of the board were all located within the Ibadan metropolis, like Bodija, Idi-Ape and Dugbe.

The enforcement exercise was due to the failure of some operators of the gaming and lottery centres to regularise with the appropriate body of the state government.

In his remark, the Director General of the Board, Mr. Olajide Boladuro, said that the role of the Board is to regulate, curtail and promote the business of gaming and lottery in Oyo State.