A Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, has ordered the University of Ibadan (UI) to reinstate three students who were suspended for participating in a protest against an increase in tuition fees.
The judgment, delivered by Justice Nkeonye Maha, nullified the disciplinary actions taken by the university’s Central Student Disciplinary Committee, stating that the students’ constitutional rights were breached during the process.
The affected students — Aduwo Ayodele, Mide Gbadegesin, and Nice Linus — were part of a peaceful demonstration held on May 13, 2024, where students carried placards with messages opposing the tuition hike. The protest followed a decision by the university’s governing council to increase school fees and related charges.
Following the protest, the disciplinary committee sanctioned Ayodele and Gbadegesin with a four-semester rustication, while Linus was subjected to restrictions that limited her participation in student union activities.
In a fundamental rights suit filed before the Federal High Court, the students argued that the disciplinary action violated their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and fair hearing as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Maha held that the university failed to provide the students with a fair opportunity to defend themselves.
The court declared the suspension unlawful and ordered the institution to reinstate them immediately.
The court also restrained the university and its agents from taking further disciplinary action against the students in relation to the protest.
The ruling has sparked discussions nationwide about student rights, academic freedom, and the limits of disciplinary measures within Nigerian universities. Observers say the judgment reinforces the constitutional protection of peaceful protest and could influence how higher institutions handle student activism moving forward.
With the court’s directive now in effect, the University of Ibadan is expected to restore the students’ academic status, allowing them to resume lectures and participate fully in campus activities.