By JKNewsMedia
THE RIGHT to peaceful protest and freedom of expression has been affirmed as Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) urges the University of Ibadan (UI) to end its dispute with three student activists and comply with a Federal High Court judgment ordering their reinstatement following a protest against increased university fees.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that the call followed Monday’s proceedings at the Federal High Court, Ibadan Division, where the court struck out an application by the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode Adebowale, seeking an injunction pending the determination of an appeal against an earlier ruling in favour of the students.
The case, Suit No. FHC/IB/CS/87/2025, arose from disciplinary measures imposed on Ayodele Aduwo, Mide Gbadegesin and Linus Adaoma after they displayed placards bearing the inscriptions “No To Fee Hike” and “#FeesMustFall” during a student gathering in 2024.
On April 15, 2026, Justice N. E. Maha of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, quashed the university’s action against the students and ordered their immediate reinstatement.
The university subsequently appealed the judgment and sought a stay of execution to prevent the students from continuing to attend classes while the appeal remained pending.
At Monday’s resumed proceedings, however, the court observed that there was effectively nothing left to stay because 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 its application. The court consequently struck it out and cautioned the university’s counsel to exercise greater care when filing processes.
The development allows the students to continue attending classes unless the Court of Appeal makes an order to the contrary.
Reacting to the decision, CAPPA welcomed the court’s position and called on the university to bring the dispute to an end by respecting the students’ fundamental rights and complying with the Federal High Court judgment.
The organisation said peaceful expression and protest formed legitimate parts of democratic participation, particularly within higher education institutions, where students should be encouraged to critically engage with policies affecting their education and welfare.
CAPPA said the students’ ordeal began on May 13, 2024, when they briefly and peacefully displayed the placards during the inauguration of the Students’ Union leadership.
University authorities forcibly removed them from the venue, physically assaulted them and profiled them as cultists, the organisation said.
The students subsequently faced prolonged intimidation and harassment, culminating in disciplinary proceedings that resulted in Aduwo and Gbadegesin receiving suspensions for four semesters.
Although Adaoma was not formally suspended, CAPPA said she continued to face victimisation, including being prevented from resuming her role as a legislator in the UI Student Representative Council despite securing a majority mandate in the election.
With legal support and representation from CAPPA, the students approached the Federal High Court to challenge the disciplinary measures, arguing that the university had victimised them for exercising their constitutional rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
They maintained that the sanctions sought to silence lawful dissent and discourage other students from speaking out against policies they considered unjust.
CAPPA said the latest court development offered the university an opportunity to de-escalate the dispute and restore a culture of dialogue, accountability and respect for students’ rights.
The organisation urged the university management to avoid further actions that could be perceived as retaliatory and allow the students to complete their studies without intimidation, harassment or discrimination.
It also appealed to Adebowale to demonstrate the judgment and moral leadership expected of his office by bringing the dispute to a dignified conclusion and upholding the rule of law.
JKNewsMedia.com also reports that CAPPA urged the UI VC to regard the students not as adversaries to be subdued, but as young people entrusted to the university’s care who deserved the patience, guidance and concern he would extend to his own children.
The organisation said allowing the students to complete their studies without further hostility would affirm the university’s finest traditions and reflect a commitment to dialogue, justice and student welfare over prolonged confrontation.
It also called on Nigerian universities to review their disciplinary procedures to ensure they protect students’ constitutional rights and do not treat peaceful protest or criticism of institutional policies 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,” CAPPA’s Assistant Executive Director, Zikora Ibeh, said.
CAPPA reaffirmed its solidarity with the affected students and called on relevant authorities to uphold freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, due process and democratic participation across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
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