In a landmark ruling, the Federal High Court in Ibadan has nullified the four-semester suspension of three University of Ibadan (UI) students.
The court ordered their immediate reinstatement, restoring all academic rights and privileges.
Justice Nkeonye Maha set aside the university’s disciplinary decisions, declaring them null and void.
She criticised the process for violating the students’ right to fair hearing and natural justice.
The affected students are Aduwo Ayodele, Gbadegesin Olamide Iyanuoluwa, and Linus Nice Adaoma.
They were suspended for participating in a peaceful protest against a school fees hike in May 2024.
The court ruled that the university’s disciplinary panel failed to establish that the students disrupted any event and was biased, with an individual who petitioned against them sitting on the panel.
Maha ordered the university and its agents to refrain from taking any further disciplinary action against the students regarding the protest.
However, she declined the students’ request for damages, stating insufficient justification.
The students had argued that they were punished for exercising their right to peaceful protest and that the punishment was excessive.
Though the university maintained that due process was followed, the court’s ruling upholds the students’ claims.
