Actions Taken
Justice Evelyn Maha of the Federal High Court, Oyo State Division, Ibadan, has ordered the immediate reinstatement of University of Ibadan student activists Aduwo Ayodele and Mide Gbadegesin, who were suspended over their involvement in a protest against an alleged arbitrary fee increase by the university management.
SaharaReporters reported in July 2025 that the university management suspended Ayodele, a 400-level History student, and Gbadegesin for four semesters over their involvement in a peaceful protest.
The institution also barred them from participating in Students’ Union activities and required them to undergo counselling as part of the suspension conditions. The decision came despite public backlash that followed earlier reports of plans to discipline the students.
On May 13, 2024, students including Ayodele, Gbadegesin, and Nice Linus staged a protest against a fee hike during a Students’ Union event.
They were subsequently arrested by the University of Ibadan security unit and later summoned before the Students’ Disciplinary Committee on July 2, 2024. The students were allegedly assaulted during the arrest before being handed over to Operation Burst in the state.
Following the disciplinary process, Ayodele and Gbadegesin were suspended, prompting them to file a fundamental rights suit against the university.
Confirming the court ruling to SaharaReporters on Wednesday, Ayodele said, "Yes, the Federal High Court, Ibadan Division, today, Wednesday, April 15, 2026, ordered the University of Ibadan to immediately reinstate myself, Aduwo Ayodele and Mide Gbadegesin.
"The court also ordered an end to the year-long victimisation of the three of us: Mide Gbadegesin, Aduwo Ayodele and Nice Linus."
Ayodele, however, clarified the status of the third student, Nice Linus, saying, "I should mention that Nice Linus was not suspended; because by virtue of having our case in court, it stopped the management from continuing the disciplinary panel that would have continued her trial."
Also confirming the development to SaharaReporters, Linus recounted that the legal action stemmed from the flawed disciplinary actions initiated by the university authorities.
"We filed a fundamental human rights action last year, in September. After, at a sitting of the Central Students' Disciplinary Committee (SDC) of the University of Ibadan, headed by the Vice Chancellor, two of my comrades, Mide and Aduwo, got suspended,” Linus said.
"Following their suspension in July, the SDC began making moves to suspend me as well.
"I was invited to another SDC hearing. However, before the hearing date, we submitted the matter to the court in September."
She added that the court found multiple procedural violations in how the university handled the case.
"Today, the court gave its judgement on our case. It ruled that the very process of initiating disciplinary proceedings against us was wrong ab initio, because we were being prosecuted for exercising our rights,” she said.
"Furthermore, Justice Maha, who sat in judgement said that no fair hearing was given to us because the VC, who was the complainant, was part of the SDC that rusticated my colleagues.
"On the basis of these, the court reinstated both my colleagues who were rusticated.
"Also, the court stopped the University from taking further disciplinary actions against any of the three of us on the basis of the May 13, 2024 protest.”
