By The Federal High Court in Ibadan on Wednesday, April 15, nullified the suspension of two students of the University of Ibadan and subsequently ordered their immediate reinstatement.
Mide Gbadegesin and Aduwo Ayodele were suspended for four academic semesters on July 14, 2025, following their participation in a peaceful demonstration held on May 13, 2024, during the inauguration of the University of Ibadan Students’ Union leadership.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Nkeonye Maha held that the disciplinary action taken against the students was unjustified. She stressed that their actions to express themselves fell within the ambit of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.
The court ruled that the students must not be punished for engaging in a peaceful protest, affirming that their conduct was lawful and protected under the Constitution.
Justice Maha further noted that although the University of Ibadan possesses the authority to discipline students, such powers must be exercised without bias and strictly in accordance with the principles of fair hearing.
Reacting to the judgment, Aduwo Ayodele described the ruling as a victory for the entire student body and a reinforcement of the right to demand accountability within the university system.
“The victory today reinstates the right of students on campus to speak against abnormal conditions,” he said. “There are many anomalies and pressing issues within the University of Ibadan. This judgment sends a strong message that students must continue to speak up, and that administrative high-handedness cannot persist indefinitely.”
He also urged students to remain organised and actively engage in advocacy for better leadership within the Students’ Union.
Nice Linus, another affected student, said the judgment would encourage more women to take up leadership roles without fear of victimisation.
“This victory means that more women will be inspired to take on leadership positions without the fear that victimisation will silence them,” she said.
Also speaking, Zikorah Ibe, a member of the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), emphasised the role of universities as centres for critical thinking and intellectual freedom.
“Universities should be spaces that nurture critical thinking, not repress it,” she said. “The court has affirmed that students have the right to think, question authority, and express themselves. The rights to freedom of expression and human dignity must always be protected.”
Details of the judgment later
