Court Clears Way For UI Students To Resume As CAPPA Demands End To ‘Persecution’

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The Federal High Court in Ibadan has struck out an application by the University of Ibadan seeking to stop three student activists from attending classes pending the determination of an appeal over their disciplinary sanctions.

The development has prompted the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) to call on the university management to end what it described as the continued persecution of the students and comply with an earlier judgment ordering their reinstatement.

The case, Suit No. FHC/IB/CS/87/2025, involves students Ayodele Aduwo, Mide Gbadegesin and Linus Adaoma, who faced disciplinary action following a 2024 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 action against the students and ordered their immediate reinstatement.

The university subsequently appealed the judgment and applied for a stay of execution, seeking an order that would prevent the students from continuing to attend classes while the appeal was pending.

At Monday’s 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.

The court 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, which was consequently struck out. The court also cautioned the university’s counsel to exercise greater care when filing processes.

The immediate implication is that the affected students can continue attending classes unless the Court of Appeal orders otherwise.

CAPPA welcomed the development, urging the University of Ibadan to end the dispute by respecting the students’ rights and complying with the Federal High Court judgment.

The organisation said the students’ ordeal began on May 13, 2024, when they displayed placards reading “No To Fee Hike” and “#FeesMustFall” during the inauguration of the Students’ Union leadership.

According to CAPPA, the students were removed from the venue by university authorities and subsequently faced intimidation, harassment and disciplinary proceedings.

It said Aduwo and Gbadegesin were suspended for four semesters, while Adaoma, although not formally suspended, was allegedly prevented from resuming her role as a legislator in the Students’ Representative Council despite winning a majority mandate.

With legal support from CAPPA, the students challenged the disciplinary measures at the Federal High Court, arguing that they had been victimised for exercising their constitutional rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

CAPPA maintained that peaceful expression and protest should be recognised as legitimate forms of democratic participation, particularly in institutions of higher learning.

The organisation urged the university management to avoid further actions that could be perceived as retaliatory and allow the affected students to complete their studies without intimidation or discrimination.

CAPPA Assistant Executive Director, Zikora Ibeh, said the latest court decision should provide an opportunity for the university to de-escalate the dispute.

“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,” Ibeh said.

CAPPA also called on 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 automatically treated as misconduct.

The organisation reaffirmed its support for the affected students and called for greater respect for freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, due process and democratic participation within Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.

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