By Olokode Favour
The Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan has ordered the University of Ibadan to reinstate two students who were rusticated for their involvement in a protest against tuition fee increments.
The ruling, delivered on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, by Justice Nkeonye Evelyn Maha, set aside the disciplinary action taken against Mide Gbadegesin, a 700-level student of the Institute of African Studies, and Aduwo Ayodele, a 400-level History student.
The students were sanctioned by the university’s Central Student Disciplinary Committee following their participation in a placard protest held on May 13, 2024, during the swearing-in ceremony of the Students’ Union leadership for the 2023/2024 academic session.
Another student, Nice Linus, a 500-level Law student, was also involved in the protest. Although she was not included in the reinstatement order, she reportedly lost her position as a member of the Student Representative Council after the incident.
In her judgment, Justice Maha held that the actions of the affected students fell within their constitutional rights, particularly the rights to freedom of thought, expression, and association as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The court subsequently ordered their immediate reinstatement and nullified all disciplinary measures taken against them in connection with the protest.
The court also referenced the students’ claims that they were forcibly removed from the venue by university security officials, assaulted, and handed over to security operatives after being profiled as criminals. The judge noted that the university authorities did not deny these allegations during proceedings.
Reacting to the judgment, the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) described the ruling as a strong affirmation of students’ constitutional rights. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the organisation called on the university to immediately comply with the court order, reinstate the affected students, and issue an unreserved apology to all three individuals involved in the protest.
CAPPA further alleged that the students were subjected to sustained intimidation and disciplinary actions following the protest, which it described as a peaceful expression against fee hikes. The organisation maintained that such actions reflect a broader pattern of repression of student activism in Nigerian universities.
According to CAPPA, institutions of higher learning should serve as spaces for open dialogue and critical engagement, rather than environments where dissenting voices are silenced. It warned that continued suppression of student expression could undermine the role of universities in fostering independent thought and democratic values.
The group also linked the protest to wider concerns about rising education costs, arguing that increasing fees amid economic hardship continues to place pressure on students and may lead to further unrest if not addressed through inclusive and transparent processes.
The judgment marks a significant development in ongoing debates over students’ rights, freedom of expression, and the limits of institutional authority within Nigerian universities.
