Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The legal battle between the University of Ibadan (UI) and a postgraduate student, Kayode Bello, over his alleged exclusion from graduation has taken a new turn, with the Court of Appeal in Ibadan adjourning the matter to October 29, 2026, despite the student's plea for an immediate hearing. Bello, who has represented himself throughout the proceedings, expressed deep concern that the latest adjournment could prevent him from participating in the university's November 2026 convocation, marking yet another delay in a dispute that has lingered since 2022. In a statement issued on Sunday, 5 July 2026, Bello alleged that the adjournment followed a threat by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Court of Appeal, Mrs Maryam Belgore, who he claimed warned him that the matter could be given a longer hearing date if he failed to "cooperate" during a court-ordered mediation process.
The appeal stems from a Federal High Court judgment delivered in October 2025 by Justice Evelyn Maha, which reportedly ordered the university to reopen Bello's master's student portal and allow him to participate in the institution's convocation after completing his Master's degree in Communication and Language Arts. The University of Ibadan, alongside its Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, Provost of the Postgraduate College, Admission Officer, the Head of the Information and Communication Technology Unit of the Postgraduate College, the Head of the Department of Communication and Language Arts, and a lecturer in the department, Dr Bisi Olawuyi, subsequently appealed the judgment, preventing its implementation.
The appeal came up before Justice Georgewill Abraham of the Court of Appeal on Friday, 3 July 2026, after an earlier adjournment for court-ordered mediation between the parties. According to Bello, the mediation held on Wednesday, 1 July 2026, before the Deputy Chief Registrar, Mrs Maryam Belgore, ended without a settlement. In his statement, Bello alleged that Belgore displayed "open affection" towards the university's counsel, Benedicta Adigwe, and hurriedly prepared what he described as an incomplete report indicating that the parties had failed to reach an agreement. He further accused the court official of displaying bias in favour of the university's counsel, allegations that have not been independently verified.
During the court session on Friday, Bello urged the appellate court to hear the appeal immediately, arguing that a further delay could prevent him from participating in the university's November 2026 convocation. According to him, while the respondents sought a hearing date in December 2026, he opposed any adjournment that would further delay the case. The court initially considered fixing the matter for 2027 before eventually selecting 29 October 2026. "During the court session last Friday, I told the court that I would miss the November 2026 convocation again if the matter was not heard and concluded before the ceremony," Bello said.
The dispute, Bello noted, has been before the courts since 2022, beginning at the Federal High Court before progressing to the Court of Appeal. He also stated that he has represented himself throughout the proceedings at both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal. On Tuesday, 30 June 2026, the Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division, had ordered the UI management and nine others to enter into immediate reconciliation with Bello. The directive was contained in an official court document dated Monday, 29 June 2026, which was exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters. The letter, with reference number CA/IB/MBA/VOL.II/63, was signed by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division.
Bello expressed concern that the adjournment could prevent him from graduating in November if the appeal is not concluded before the university's convocation. He noted that the dispute, which began at the Federal High Court in 2022, has remained unresolved despite the lower court's judgment in his favour. The legal battle began after Bello's student portal was blocked in 2021, preventing him from completing his Master's programme in Communication Arts, which he had reportedly finished in 2023. Despite the Federal High Court ruling in his favour in October 2025, ordering that his postgraduate student portal be reopened to enable him participate in the university's convocation, the university filed an appeal against the judgment, preventing its implementation.
The case has drawn attention to the broader issues of student rights and institutional accountability in Nigeria's higher education system. Bello's legal battle, which has now entered its fourth year, highlights the challenges faced by students who seek judicial redress against university administrations. Counsel to the appellants include Messrs Frederick Ladapo, Akinade Adesokan, and Tomoloju Benjamin of the law firm of the late Chief Ladosu Ladapo (SAN). As the case is now set for hearing on 29 October 2026, Bello's fate hangs in the balance, with the possibility of missing yet another convocation ceremony looming large. For a student who has fought for years to secure his rightful place among graduates of Nigeria's premier university, the wait continues.
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