By Toyin Victor, ABUJA
Three student activists of the University of Ibadan will continue attending classes after the Federal High Court in Ibadan struck out an application seeking to halt their resumption pending the determination of an appeal.
The application was filed by the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode Adebowale, following an April 15, 2026 judgment by Justice N. E. Maha, which ordered the reinstatement of Ayodele Aduwo, Mide Gbadegesin and Linus Adaoma.
At Monday’s proceedings, the court observed that there was effectively nothing left to stay, as the students had already resumed classes while the substantive appeal was before the Court of Appeal.
The university subsequently withdrew the application, prompting the Federal High Court to strike it out and advise that any further application concerning the appeal should be directed to the appellate court.
The case, filed as Suit No. FHC/IB/CS/87/2025, arose from disciplinary action against the students after they displayed placards bearing the messages “No To Fee Hike” and “#FeesMustFall” during a student gathering in May 2024.
The students had challenged the disciplinary measures, arguing that they were victimised for exercising their constitutional rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
Reacting to the latest development, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, CAPPA, called on the University of Ibadan to bring the dispute to an end and comply with the Federal High Court’s judgment.
CAPPA said peaceful expression and criticism of institutional policies should not be treated as offences in tertiary institutions, urging the university to allow the affected students to complete their studies without intimidation, harassment or discrimination.
The organisation’s Assistant Executive Director, Zikora Ibeh, said the latest court decision provides an opportunity for the university to de-escalate the dispute, uphold the rule of law and restore dialogue, while CAPPA reaffirmed its call for the protection of freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and due process in Nigerian universities.