Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, has ordered the immediate recall and reinstatement of three students of the University of Ibadan who were suspended for participating in a 2024 protest against an increase in school fees.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Nkeonye Maha held that the disciplinary process that led to the students’ four-semester suspension was fundamentally flawed and violated their constitutional right to fair hearing. The court consequently set aside the sanctions imposed by the university and ordered the full restoration of the students’ academic rights and privileges.
The affected students, identified as Aduwo Ayodele, Gbadegesin Olamide Iyanuoluwa, and Linus Nice Adaoma, had challenged their suspension, arguing that they were punished for participating in a peaceful protest during a campus event in May 2024. They maintained that their actions were limited to displaying placards calling for a reversal of increased tuition fees and did not disrupt proceedings.
According to court documents, the protest occurred at Trenchard Hall during a university event, where the students displayed placards bearing the message “Fees Must Fall” in response to a significant hike in tuition. The fee increase, reportedly raising charges from between N20,000–N30,000 to between N203,000–N412,000, sparked widespread concern among students at the time.
The students further alleged that they were forcibly removed by security personnel, assaulted, and later taken into custody by security operatives who profiled them as suspected cultists before their eventual release. They claimed that despite their release, the university proceeded with disciplinary action that ultimately resulted in their rustication for four semesters.
In its ruling, the court found that the disciplinary committee failed to establish that the students disrupted any event and did not observe the principles of natural justice. Justice Maha noted that the composition of the disciplinary panel was compromised, pointing out that an individual who had earlier petitioned against the students also sat on the committee that recommended sanctions.
The judge further held that while universities possess the authority to discipline students, such powers must be exercised strictly in accordance with due process and without bias. She ruled that the failure to afford the students a fair hearing rendered the entire disciplinary process null and void.
The court also emphasized that only law enforcement agencies, not university security personnel, have statutory powers of arrest, and noted that this issue raised additional concerns about the handling of the incident.
As part of the judgment, the court ordered the immediate reinstatement of the students, including restoration of their rights to attend lectures, sit examinations, and participate in student union activities. It also restrained the university and its agents from taking any further disciplinary action against them in relation to the protest.
However, the court declined the students’ request for monetary damages, stating that claims for compensation were not sufficiently substantiated in the circumstances of the case.
The university had argued that due process was followed in line with its regulations and maintained that the students were given opportunities to defend themselves and appeal the decision. It also insisted that the disciplinary process was justified based on allegations of misconduct during the protest.
The case has drawn significant attention from civil society organisations, including Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) and the Education Rights Campaign, both of which have consistently described the sanctions as an infringement on students’ constitutional rights.
CAPPA welcomed the court’s ruling, urging the university to comply fully with the judgment and reinstate the students without delay. The group also called for a formal apology to the affected students, describing the judgment as a reaffirmation of constitutional protections for freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
Similarly, Amnesty International had previously condemned the suspension, arguing that students should not be punished for expressing dissent over tuition increases during a period of economic hardship.
The ruling has also reignited broader debate about academic freedom and student rights in Nigerian universities, particularly in relation to disciplinary actions arising from protests. Observers note that universities often face a delicate balance between maintaining order and respecting constitutional freedoms within campus environments.
Legal analysts say the judgment reinforces established principles of fair hearing and due process, emphasizing that disciplinary bodies must operate impartially and transparently, especially in cases involving fundamental rights.
The students’ case originated from disciplinary actions taken after their participation in a May 2024 protest against tuition increases. Following internal proceedings, the university’s Central Student Disciplinary Committee recommended rustication for two of the students, a decision later approved by the institution’s management.
One of the claimants, Linus Nice Adaoma, is also separately challenging her exclusion from student representative council activities despite winning an election, with that matter still pending before the court.
The latest ruling is expected to have implications for disciplinary procedures in tertiary institutions across the country, particularly regarding the handling of student activism and protest-related sanctions.
For now, the court’s decision marks a decisive legal victory for the students and civil society advocates who argued that their punishment was excessive and inconsistent with constitutional guarantees of free expression.
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