The Federal High Court Ibadan Division has ordered the reinstatement of two UI students, Aduwo Ayodele and Mide Gbadegesin, who were rusticated by the University’s Central Student Disciplinary Committee for protesting against tuition hikes on Monday, July 14, 2025.
The reinstatement was ordered during a ruling held on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, and presided over by Justice Nkeonye Evelyn Maha.
Recall that Mide Gbadegesin (700-level of Institute of African Studies) and Aduwo Ayodele (400-level History student) and Nice Linus (500-level Law student) participated in a placard protest on the 13th of May, 2024, during the swearing-in ceremony of the University of Ibadan Students’ Union Executives and Legislatives for the 2023/24 academic session led by Aweda Bolaji and Busoye Matthias as President and Speaker respectively.
Nice Linus, who was also involved in the protest, later lost her elected position as a legislator in the Student Representative Council.
According to the judgment delivered at around 5:00 PM, the court held that the applicants had established their constitutional right to freedom of association under the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and consequently ordered their reinstatement.
“The applicants are reinstated with immediate effect as it relates to the subject matter of this suit, having established their right to freedom of association under the 1999 Constitution (as amended),” the court ruled.
The court further declared actions taken against the students in connection with the matter nullified in light of the judgment.
“In light of the factual circumstances set above they are reinstated in their respective faculties of this university and any action that is limited to or by this judgment is hereby nullified in light of these developments,” the judge added.
More details shortly.
