The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has condemned the University of Ibadan’s suspension of three student activists, Ayodele Aduwo, Mide Gbadegesin, and Nice Linus, labeling it a “shameful victimisation” and a violation of constitutional rights.
The students were suspended after holding placards with the inscription “No To Fee Hike” during a peaceful gathering in 2024. According to CAPPA, Aduwo and Gbadegesin were handed four-semester suspensions following a disciplinary hearing held on July 14, 2025. The group says the university has used intimidation and harassment over the past year to silence the trio, despite their strong academic performance and advocacy for better student welfare.
Nice Linus, who was elected into the UI Student Representative Council, was also removed from her position over what the university claimed was a pending disciplinary case. CAPPA, however, highlighted that the university’s student constitution only disqualifies students found guilty of gross misconduct, a verdict that has not been reached in Linus’ case.
“The actions of the university amount to an authoritarian crackdown on student voices,” CAPPA said in a strongly worded statement.
“These suspensions not only undermine freedom of thought and expression as enshrined in Sections 38 and 39 of Nigeria’s Constitution, but also paint a troubling picture of rising repression on Nigerian campuses.”
CAPPA also decried the university’s neglect of pressing student issues, especially the sharp increase in tuition fees, reportedly from N69,000 to as much as N412,000. The group said such fee hikes have made education unattainable for many, with some female students allegedly resorting to selling their eggs to fertility clinics to survive.
CAPPA’s Assistant Executive Director, Zikora Ibeh lamented the university’s priorities: “Instead of addressing the growing desperation among students, UI is investing in surveillance and repression. This is not education; it’s exploitation.”
Therefore, the organisation demanded the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of the suspended students, warning that the university would be held accountable for any harm inflicted on them. It also called on civil society, alumni, unions, and the broader Nigerian public to defend the students and academic freedom.
