Amnesty International has written to the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Adebowale, urging the immediate reinstatement of three students suspended for peacefully protesting a proposed tuition hike. The organisation condemned the disciplinary action as a violation of the students’ rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
In a letter dated July 14, 2025 and addressed to the Vice Chancellor, Amnesty International raised concerns over what it described as “allegations of human rights violations against students”. It demanded that Aduwo Ayodele (Department of History), Nice Linus (Faculty of Law), and Mide Gbadegesin (Institute of African Studies) be allowed to resume their academic activities without further victimisation.
According to the rights group, the students submitted a petition dated July 11, 2025, detailing their ordeal during a peaceful protest held in 2024 at the swearing-in ceremony of newly elected Students’ Union executives for the 2023/2024 academic session.
The students claimed that “about the time the newly elected Students’ Union President was to deliver his inaugural speech, the trio of students stepped out of their seats and raised placards with the inscription ‘FEESMUSTFALL’ in peaceful protest against the imminent increase in school fees.”
They further asserted that they neither “chant[ed], shout[ed], obstruct[ed] movement or interfere[d] with the ceremony,” nor displayed “violence, threats or breach of public order.” Despite the nonviolent nature of their protest, the students alleged that they were “forcefully dragged out of the venue by the University of Ibadan’s internal security officers, physically assaulted and handed over to the Nigerian Army.”
The university has since accused the students of “gross misconduct bordering on insubordination/unruly behaviour,” and subjected them to what Amnesty International described as “two separate disciplinary proceedings.” The students alleged that the process “has been prolonged, intimidating and designed to suppress dissent, rather than uphold justice or fairness.” The latest disciplinary hearing, held on Monday, July 14, 2025, resulted in their suspension for four semesters. Amnesty International stated that the students’ actions fell within the scope of their constitutionally protected rights.
“The raising of ‘placards with scandalous inscriptions against school fees increment’ is in exercise of the trio students’ rights to freedom of expression and assembly and does not fall within the allowable restrictions,” the group said.
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