Court Strikes Out UI Application Seeking to Halt Student Activists’ Resumption

The Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan has struck out an application by the University of Ibadan seeking to prevent three student activists from attending classes pending the determination of an appeal.
The application, filed by the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode Adebowale, followed an earlier judgment ordering the reinstatement of Ayodele Aduwo, Mide Gbadegesin and Linus Adaoma, who were disciplined over a 2024 protest against an increase in university fees.
The students had displayed placards reading “No To Fee Hike” and “#FeesMustFall” during a Students’ Union gathering on May 13, 2024.
In its judgment of April 15, 2026, the Federal High Court, presided over by Justice N. E. Maha, nullified the disciplinary measures against the students and ordered their immediate reinstatement.
The university subsequently appealed the judgment and applied for a stay of execution, seeking to stop the students from attending classes while the appeal was pending.
At Monday’s proceedings, however, the court observed that there was nothing left to stay because the students had already resumed and the substantive appeal was before the Court of Appeal.
The university consequently withdrew the application, prompting the court to strike it out. The court also advised the university to direct any further application relating to the matter to the appellate court.
The development means the affected students can continue attending classes unless the Court of Appeal issues a contrary order.
Reacting to the ruling, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, CAPPA, urged the University of Ibadan to end what it described as the continued persecution of the students and comply with the Federal High Court judgment.
CAPPA said peaceful expression and protest are legitimate forms of democratic participation, particularly in universities where students should be allowed to critically engage policies affecting their education and welfare.
The organisation alleged that the three students were forcibly removed from the 2024 gathering, assaulted and subsequently subjected to intimidation and harassment. It said Aduwo and Gbadegesin were suspended for four semesters, while Adaoma was prevented from resuming her elected role in the Student Representative Council.
With legal support from CAPPA, the students challenged the disciplinary actions, arguing that they were punished for exercising their constitutional rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
CAPPA called on the university management to avoid further retaliatory measures and allow the students to complete their studies without intimidation or discrimination.
The organisation also urged Nigerian universities to review their disciplinary procedures to ensure that peaceful protests and criticism of institutional policies do not become grounds for violating students’ fundamental rights.
CAPPA’s Assistant Executive Director, Zikora Ibeh, said the latest court decision should encourage the university to respect the rule of law and resolve the dispute through dialogue.
The organisation reaffirmed its support for the affected students and called on relevant authorities to protect freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, due process and democratic participation in Nigerian tertiary institutions.