The Federal High Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, issued an order compelling the University of Ibadan to restore the enrolment of three students who had been barred for taking part in a tuition‑fee protest. Justice Nkeonye Maha delivered the ruling on Wednesday, directing the university to reinstate Aduwo Ayodele, Mide Gbadegesin and Nice Linus with immediate effect.
According to a PUNCH Online report, the university's management suspended the trio on 14 July 2025 after they demonstrated following the governing council's endorsement of a fee increase. The protest, which began at midnight, was sparked by a circular from council secretary G.O. Saliu that referenced a revised levy schedule for the 2023/2024 academic session and set a payment deadline of 4 September 2024.
In their suit, the students argued that the disciplinary process violated their constitutional rights. The court's order declared the refusal of the Student Disciplinary Committee and the Central Student Disciplinary Committee to permit witnesses and video evidence as a breach of the right to a fair hearing under Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution. It set aside the committee's July 2025 decisions that had rusticated the first two applicants for four semesters, imposed a good‑behaviour undertaking, barred them from union matters and mandated counselling. The judgment also imposed N20 million in joint damages and N5 million in exemplary damages against the second respondent. Justice Maha pronounced, "I hereby set aside the decision of the Disciplinary Committee and order the reinstatement of the suspended students," noting that university officials "did not deny these damning allegations." Zikora Ibeh, CAPPA's Assistant Executive Director, said the ruling "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."
Justice Nkeonye Maha's decision directly challenges the use of disciplinary committees to silence student activism, signalling that courts will enforce constitutional safeguards even within academic settings. The case arose from a fee‑hike protest triggered by a council circular, yet the core dispute centered on the denial of a fair hearing and the punitive measures imposed without due process.
Nigeria's higher‑education landscape has seen frequent fee adjustments, often sparking unrest; this ruling underscores that administrative bodies cannot bypass legal standards when disciplining dissenting voices. By ordering reinstatement and awarding substantial damages, the judgment reinforces the judiciary's role in upholding students' rights to expression and assembly.
For current and prospective university students, the verdict restores the three individuals' ability to attend classes, sit exams and engage in union activities, while also warning institutions that similar punitive actions could attract costly legal repercussions. Those studying in environments where fee structures are contested stand to benefit from clearer procedural protections.
The episode fits a broader pattern of Nigerian courts intervening in university governance disputes, reflecting growing scrutiny of how academic institutions manage protests and enforce regulations.
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