L-R: Ayodele Aduwo (Top), Mide Gbadegesin (Bottom), and Nice Linus (Right).
By Olajide Tikristi
On Monday, 14 July 2025, the University of Ibadan’s Central Student Disciplinary Committee (SDC) suspended Aduwo Ayodele, a final-year History student, and Gbadegesin Olamide, a postgraduate student at the Institute of African Studies. Alongside them, Nice Linus, a 400-level law student and former majority leader of Obafemi Awolowo Hall in the Students’ Representative Council, faces an uncertain fate as the SDC deliberates her punishment. The trio, now known as the “UI’3,” were penalised for their involvement in a peaceful protest on 13 May 2024 against a hike in school fees. Their suspension and Linus’s disqualification from the Students’ Representative Council mark another dark chapter in the university’s history, sending a chilling warning to the student body.
A Legacy of Repression at Nigeria’s Premier University
The punishment of students for dissent is not new at the University of Ibadan. In 1971, protests against government policies led to suspensions and expulsions. In 1981, demonstrations over tuition hikes and poor welfare conditions resulted in arrests and dismissals. During the 1990s, students who resisted faced suspension, expulsion, or detention without trial. In 2017, Ojo Aderemi, then President of the Students’ Union, was suspended for leading protests against inadequate power supply and unjust levies. Branded a rebel, Aderemi lost the support of many who once praised him, as silence engulfed the campus. The strategy remains consistent: punish a few to frighten the rest and weaken the union. The UI’3’s ordeal mirrors this historical pattern of repression at Nigeria’s premier university.
The Silence of Student Leaders
The response from student leaders to the UI’3’s plight has been one of silence or indifference. Aduwo and Gbadegesin, both from Independence Hall, received no support from their hall executives or the Student Union leaders from their hall. Zik Hall, once a hub of activism alongside Independence Hall, dismissed any connection to the suspended students, with leaders stating, “They are not part of us.” Other halls of residence have similarly failed to mobilise or voice support for student justice. The Faculty of Law Students’ Society, led by President Alabi Oluwaseyi Barnabas, offered no solidarity to Nice Linus, one of their own. No statement was issued, and the President and Vice President, Hammedah Ajibade, declined interviews when contacted by The Law Press. Barnabas initially promised a response but failed to follow through, while Ajibade claimed she thought she had already responded, sidestepping the issue
The Law Students’ Society’s Inaction
The Law Students’ Society (LSS) showed awareness of the UI’3’s situation but stopped short of meaningful action. A UIMSA Press publication tracing the history of student victimisation at the university was shared on The Elite, a student platform where LSS executives are members. The General Secretary, Igbehinadun Oyinbusola, commented, “Aside from the content of this article, the writer baddddd!” The Vice President added, “Once you read the first paragraph you are hooked.” These remarks reveal that LSS leaders noticed the issue but limited their response to praising the writing rather than addressing the injustice. Repeated inquiries from The Law Press about the LSS’s stance on the trial and suspension were ignored or evaded, highlighting a clear unwillingness to engage.
A Weakened Union and a Muted Campus
Unionism, once a powerful platform for defending students’ rights, has been reduced to a shadow of its former self. Hall leaders from Independence and Zik Halls, historically known for activism, now prioritise social events and prestige over advocacy. Orientation for new students has been stripped of discussions on student struggles and civic rights, with Freshers’ Week focusing instead on dress codes, noise regulations, and appearances. Resistance talks have faded, and many students now express their opinions in whispers, fearing the same fate as the UI’3. Martin Luther King Jr.’s words ring true: “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” The punishment of Aduwo, Gbadegesin, and Linus is severe, but the greater failure lies in the silence of their peers and leaders.
A Call to Break the Silence
The UI’3’s ordeal reveals a stark truth: unionism at the University of Ibadan is being eroded not only by the authorities but also by the inaction of student leaders and the fear of students unwilling to take risks. The Law Students’ Society, once regarded as the university’s conscience, praises past heroes like Aderemi while failing to support those facing victimisation today. The university’s history is replete with repression, from the expulsions of the 1970s to the crackdowns of the 1980s and 1990s, from Aderemi’s suspension in 2017 to the UI’3’s punishment in 2025. The way forward is clear: silence must end, and unionism must rise again. History will judge not only those who punished students but also those who chose to look away when their voices were most needed. The UI’3 remain unjustly punished, but the heavier shame rests on a campus that failed to stand with them
This article was first published by the Law Press Organisation
