Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has strongly condemned the suspension of three University of Ibadan (UI) students—Ayodele Aduwo, Mide Gbadegesin, and Nice Linus—for protesting against tuition hikes.
In a statement issued by its Media and Communications Officer, Mr. Robert Egbe, CAPPA said Aduwo and Gbadegesin were suspended for four semesters after appearing before the university’s disciplinary panel on July 14, 2025.
The NGO described the action as the culmination of a year-long pattern of intimidation by the university. It said the affected students, known for their academic excellence and activism, had been repeatedly harassed by school authorities.
CAPPA also criticised the university’s disqualification of Nice Linus from the Student Representative Council after her electoral victory, citing an unresolved disciplinary case. The group argued this violated the union’s constitution, which only bars candidates found guilty of gross misconduct.
Calling the suspensions unconstitutional, CAPPA said they infringe on the students’ rights to freedom of expression under Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution. “Universities should be spaces of critical thought, not repression,” the group stated.
It decried the broader context of skyrocketing fees—reportedly rising by 500 to 1,000 percent—as a move that’s pricing out students from low-income backgrounds. “Education is becoming a privilege, not a right,” CAPPA lamented.
The group called for the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of the students and urged civil society, alumni, and the public to defend academic freedom.
“UI’s proud legacy is being eroded by a culture of fear and suppression.
“We will continue to stand with Ayodele, Mide, and Nice, and amplify their voices against this injustice,” the statement concluded.
