The Coordinator of National Youth Service Corps, Ogun State, Mrs Olayinka Nasamu, has said the corps has no knowledge of the hit-and-run driver who killed Pelumi David Idowu, a student of Gateway ICT Polytechnic in Saapade, Aiyepe Annexe.
DAILY POST had reported that the 24-year-old ND1 Public Administration student and 22-year-old Hassan Ariyo, a bike man carrying him died after being hit by a driver in front of the Orientation Camp on the Sagamu-Ikenne Road last Monday.
Students in Ogun State on Tuesday protested the death of Idowu, alleging a cover-up by the state coordinator of the NYSC.
The students under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Students and National Association of Ogun State Students took the protest to the State Police Command, saying that the driver of the car was Ojo Aina, an NYSC worker, who allegedly ran into the orientation camp to cover up.
Speaking to newsmen on Wednesday, the NYSC State Coordinator called the accusations “a figment of the students’ imagination” and said they were entirely untrue and unfounded.
Expressing her condolences to the family of the deceased and to the Students Union Government of the polytechnic, Nasamu
said she could not have supported anything that would obstruct the course of justice.
She said, “First and foremost, I want to extend my condolences, on behalf of the NYSC as a responsible organisation and myself as a mother, to the families of the victims affected by this unfortunate incident.
“May they find strength and comfort in this difficult time. We also condole with the Student Union Government and the entire Gateway Polytechnic community.
“After a thorough investigation conducted by the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force in Ogun State, I am pleased to inform you that the NYSC has been cleared of any wrongdoing in this matter.”
She noted that the management of the polytechnic led by the Rector and the Students Union President had equally visited her office to apologise to the NYSC on the wrong accusation.
“The Student Union President, Rector, and Dean of Student Affairs of Gateway Polytechnic have acknowledged the mistake and have formally apologised for the wrongful accusations made against the NYSC.
“They have committed to issuing a public rejoinder to address and correct the damaging story circulating in the media space.
“We have the official reports from the DSS and the press release from the Student Union President for your reference,” she said.
The coordinator clarified that while the Ojo Aina the students were falsely accusing is an employee of the organisation, he was only called upon following the accident and had driven his car from inside the camp to the gate to attend to the situation.