The Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, has ordered the management of the University of Ibadan to reinstate three students suspended for protesting hikes in tuition fees.
The affected students are Aduwo Ayodele, Mide Gbadegesin, and Nice Linus.
The students were suspended on July 14, 2025 by the institution’s management for protesting after the university governing council endorsed a fee hike.
The demonstrations, which began at midnight, were said to have been triggered by a circular issued by the council’s secretary, G.O. Saliu.
The circular stated that after a meeting by the council had “considered the reviewed schedule of levies for newly admitted and returning undergraduate students in the 2023/2024 academic session and approved it as recommended by the university Senate.”
It further noted, “Consequently, students who are yet to pay and complete their registration exercises are advised to do so on or before Wednesday, September 4, 2024, to enable departments to download lists of registered students in preparation for the first semester examination.”
However, in a suit filed before the court, the applicants described their suspension as infringement on their fundamental human rights, and urged the court to quash the order.
The order sought include; “A declaration that the refusal during the sittings of the 1st Respondent’s Student Disciplinary Committee and the Central Student Disciplinary Committee to allow the Applicants call witnesses and present video footage of what transpired on 13th of May, 2024, constitutes egregious infringement of the Applicants’ right to fair hearing guaranteed under Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
“AN ORDER SETTING ASIDE in its entirety the 1st Respondent’s Central Student Disciplinary Committee’s decisions dated 14th of July, 2025 to wit; rusticating the 1st and 2nd Applicants for four semesters, mandating them to write an undertaking of good behaviour, not to meddle with Student Union matters and to undergo mandatory professional counselling at the 1st Respondent’s Career Development and Counselling Centre, being decisions reached in proceedings bereft of fair hearing and natural justice.
“AN ORDER OF THE HONOURABLE COURT forthwith reinstating the Applicants’ full studentship rights and privileges within the 1st Respondent with immediate effect to wit, attend lectures, write examinations and participate in student union activities for the advancement of their lawful interest.
“AN ORDER OF PERPETUAAL INJUNCTION restraining the Respondents whether by themselves or through their agents from further subjecting the Applicants to the 1st Respondent’s Student Disciplinary Committee and or the Central Student Disciplinary Committee on account of the exercise of their rights to freedom of thought and expression guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
“The sum of N20m damages jointly and severally against the Respondents for the infringement of the Applicants’ constitutionally guaranteed rights to dignity of their human person, personal liberty, fair hearing, freedom of thought, freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, freedom of movement, and freedom from discrimination guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. EXEMPLARY DAMAGES of N5m personally against the 2nd Respondent for flagrant disregard of the law and constitutional provisions of the cherished principles of natural justice.”
In her ruling, Justice Maha said the management infringed on the rights of the affected students by not giving them fair hearing by the Central Disciplinary Committee.
She said, “I hereby set aside the decision of the Disciplinary Committee and order the reinstatement of the suspended students.”
