Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has called on the University of Ibadan (UI) to end the continued persecution of three student activists, Ayodele Aduwo, Mide Gbadegesin and Linus Adaoma, who were subjected to disciplinary action for displaying placards bearing the inscriptions “No To Fee Hike” and “#FeesMustFall” during a student gathering in 2024.
CAPPA’s call followed Monday’s proceedings at the Federal High Court, Ibadan Division, where the court struck out an application filed by the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode Adebowale, seeking an injunction pending the determination of an appeal against an earlier judgment in favour of the students.
The matter, filed as Suit No. FHC/IB/CS/87/2025, arose from disciplinary actions taken against the students after their peaceful protest against an increase in university fees.
On April 15, 2026, Justice N. E. Maha of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, quashed the university’s unlawful action against the students and ordered their immediate reinstatement. Rather than comply fully with the judgment, however, the university appealed the decision and subsequently sought a stay of execution, requiring the court to prevent the students from continuing to attend classes while its appeal remained pending.
At the resumed proceedings on Monday, the court observed that there was effectively nothing left to stay, as the students had already resumed classes and the substantive appeal was before the Court of Appeal. It advised the university to direct any further application concerning the matter to the appellate court.
Following the court’s position, the university withdrew the application. The court consequently struck it out and cautioned the university’s counsel to exercise greater care when filing processes before the court.
The development means that the students can continue attending classes unless and until the Court of Appeal makes an order to the contrary.
Reacting to the development, CAPPA welcomed the court’s decision and urged the University of Ibadan to bring the matter to an end by respecting the students’ fundamental rights and complying with the judgment of the Federal High Court.
The organisation stressed that peaceful expression and protest are legitimate components of democratic participation, particularly within institutions of higher learning, where students should be encouraged to engage critically with policies that affect their education and welfare.
The organisation said the students’ ordeal began on May 13, 2024, when they briefly and peacefully displayed placards bearing the messages “No To Fee Hike” and “#FeesMustFall” during the inauguration of the Students’ Union leadership.
They were forcibly removed from the venue by university authorities, physically assaulted and profiled as cultists. They subsequently faced prolonged campaign of intimidation and harassment, culminating in disciplinary proceedings that resulted in Aduwo and Gbadegesin being suspended for four semesters.
Although Adaoma was not formally suspended, she faced continued victimisation, including being prevented from resuming her role as a legislator in the UI Student Representative Council, despite having secured a majority mandate in the election.
With legal support and representation provided by CAPPA, the students approached the Federal High Court to challenge the disciplinary measures, arguing that they had been victimised for exercising their constitutional rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. They maintained that the sanctions were intended to silence lawful dissent and deter other students from speaking out against policies they considered unjust.
CAPPA said the latest development should provide an opportunity for the university to de-escalate the dispute and restore a culture of dialogue, accountability and respect for students’ rights.
The organisation urged the university management to desist from any further actions that could be perceived as retaliatory and to allow the students to complete their studies without intimidation, harassment or discrimination.
It particularly appealed to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adebowale, to demonstrate the sound judgment and moral leadership expected of his office by bringing the dispute to a dignified end and upholding the rule of law. It urged him to regard the affected students not as adversaries to be subdued, but as young people entrusted to the university’s care, deserving of the same patience, guidance and concern he would extend to his own children.
CAPPA said that by allowing the students to complete their studies without further hostility, Prof. Adebowale would affirm the University of Ibadan’s finest traditions and leave office as a leader who chose dialogue, justice and the welfare of his students over prolonged confrontation.
The organisation further urged Nigerian universities to review their disciplinary procedures to ensure that students’ constitutional rights are protected and that peaceful protest or criticism of institutional policies is not treated as an offence.
“The court has spoken on the immediate issue. The responsible next step is for the University of Ibadan to practise what it preaches and lead by example by obeying the judgment and upholding the rule of law,” said CAPPA’s Assistant Executive Director, Zikora Ibeh.
CAPPA reaffirmed its solidarity with the affected students and called on all relevant authorities to uphold the principles of freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, due process and democratic participation within Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
