The Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, has ordered the management of the University of Ibadan to immediately reinstate three students suspended for protesting an increase in tuition fees.
Justice Nkeonye Maha, who delivered judgment on Wednesday, set aside the decision of the institution’s Central Student Disciplinary Committee, holding that the process leading to the punishment violated the students’ constitutional right to fair hearing.
“I hereby set aside the decision of the Disciplinary Committee and order the reinstatement of the suspended students,” the judge ruled.
The affected students are Aduwo Ayodele, Mide Gbadegesin and Nice Linus.
The students were suspended on July 14, 2025, after taking part in a protest against increased tuition fees approved by the university’s governing council.
The protest reportedly began at midnight and was triggered by a circular issued by the council’s secretary, G.O. Saliu.
The circular stated that the council, after deliberations, had “considered the reviewed schedule of levies for newly admitted and returning undergraduate students in the 2023/2024 academic session and approved it as recommended by the university Senate.”
It further warned that, “students who are yet to pay and complete their registration exercises are advised to do so on or before Wednesday, September 4, 2024, to enable departments to download lists of registered students in preparation for the first semester examination.”
Dissatisfied with their suspension, the students approached the court, arguing that the disciplinary process breached their fundamental rights.
They challenged the proceedings of both the Student Disciplinary Committee and the Central Student Disciplinary Committee, alleging they were denied the opportunity to defend themselves.
They sought, among other reliefs, “a declaration that the refusal during the sittings of the 1st Respondent’s Student Disciplinary Committee and the Central Student Disciplinary Committee to allow the Applicants call witnesses and present video footage of what transpired on 13th of May, 2024, constitutes egregious infringement of the Applicants’ right to fair hearing guaranteed under Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.”
The applicants also requested: “AN ORDER SETTING ASIDE in its entirety the 1st Respondent’s Central Student Disciplinary Committee’s decisions dated 14th of July, 2025 to wit; rusticating the 1st and 2nd Applicants for four semesters, mandating them to write an undertaking of good behaviour, not to meddle with Student Union matters and to undergo mandatory professional counselling… being decisions reached in proceedings bereft of fair hearing and natural justice.”
They further prayed the court for: “AN ORDER… forthwith reinstating the Applicants’ full studentship rights and privileges… to wit, attend lectures, write examinations and participate in student union activities…”
In addition, they sought: “AN ORDER OF PERPETUAL INJUNCTION restraining the Respondents… from further subjecting the Applicants to the disciplinary committees on account of the exercise of their rights to freedom of thought and expression…”
The students also demanded compensation, seeking: “The sum of ₦20m damages… for the infringement of the Applicants’ constitutionally guaranteed rights… and EXEMPLARY DAMAGES of ₦5m… for flagrant disregard of the law and constitutional provisions.”
In her ruling, Justice Maha agreed with the applicants, holding that the university management failed to provide fair hearing during the disciplinary proceedings.
The court found that denying the students the opportunity to call witnesses and present evidence undermined the principles of natural justice, thereby invalidating the sanctions imposed on them.
Reacting to the judgment, the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa welcomed the ruling, describing it as a defence of constitutional rights.
In a statement issued in Ibadan, the group called on the university to fully comply with the judgment by reinstating the students and issuing an unreserved apology.
“The judgment strongly affirms students’ constitutional rights to freedom of thought and expression, as guaranteed under Sections 38 and 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended),” the statement read.
CAPPA also referred to testimonies presented before the court, alleging that the students were subjected to inhumane treatment during the incident.
According to the group, the court referenced claims that the students “were dragged out of the hall by the university’s internal security and handed them over to a waiting mob who beat them to a stupor and insulted them.”
It added that, “the trio were then profiled on the spot as criminals and eventually handed over to soldiers of the Operation Bust unit as dangerous cultists.”
CAPPA noted that the judge observed that the university authorities “did not deny these damning allegations.”
CAPPA’s Assistant Executive Director, Zikora Ibeh, said the ruling should serve as a warning to institutions nationwide.
“The court’s decision sends an unequivocal message to the University of Ibadan and other oppressive academic institutions nationwide that tyranny and the use of authoritarian tactics to stifle legitimate dissent is unlawful, unacceptable and will not stand,” she said.
