Court Reschedules Judgment in Case of University of Ibadan Students Rusticated Over Fee Protest
The Federal High Court in Ibadan has rescheduled judgment in the case involving three students of the University of Ibadan who were rusticated after protesting against an increase in school fees.
One of the affected students, Aduwo Ayodele, announced the development on his social media page on Tuesday morning. According to him, the court informed the parties that the judgment would now be delivered on Wednesday, April 15, at 10 a.m, “We have just been notified that the judgment in our case has been rescheduled for Wednesday, April 15, 10 a.m. We urge everyone concerned to remain resolute and optimistic. No delay, however unavoidable, should discourage or demobilise us,” he wrote.
The case involves three students — Mide Gbadegesin, Aduwo Ayodele, and Nice Linus, who were rusticated by the university following a protest against a proposed hike in school fees.
Earlier, supporters and civil society groups had mobilised ahead of the expected final hearing of the case at the Federal High Court in Ibadan.
Advocacy group Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) had also announced plans to appear in court in solidarity with the students. The organisation said it decided to support the case in order to challenge what it described as the victimisation of students for peacefully expressing dissent.
According to a statement shared with supporters, a source involved in the campaign said universities should protect intellectual debate rather than suppress students’ voices, “Universities are spaces for intellectual freedom, not environments for policing and suppressing legitimate expressions of students,” the source said, adding that a favourable judgment would represent “a victory for all victimised students across the country.”
The organisation also called on supporters, especially those in Lagos and nearby areas, to attend the court session to demonstrate solidarity with the students.
The controversy dates back to May 2024 during the inauguration ceremony of the Students’ Union Government at the University of Ibadan. During the event, the three students displayed placards carrying messages such as “Fees Must Fall” to protest against the proposed increase in tuition fees.
The students insist that their protest was peaceful and did not disrupt the ceremony. However, they alleged that security personnel forcefully removed them from the venue, physically assaulted them, and later handed them over to security operatives.
Following the incident, the university initiated disciplinary proceedings against the students, accusing them of misconduct and insubordination. Two of the students were later rusticated for four semesters, a decision that drew criticism from several civil society organisations and human rights groups.
Rights advocates argue that the punishment was excessive and intended to silence student activism on campus.
The affected students subsequently filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Ibadan, challenging the legality of the disciplinary action. In the suit, they argue that the sanctions imposed on them violate their constitutional rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
Civil society organisations have continued to campaign for their reinstatement, describing the sanctions as an attack on academic freedom and democratic rights within Nigerian universities.
The court is now expected to deliver its judgment on Wednesday, April 15.
