The Campaign for the Defence of Students’ Rights (CDSR) has condemned the suspension of Aduwo Ayodele, a 400-level History student, and Mide Gbadegesin, a 700-level student, by the University of Ibadan, describing the action as a gross violation of student rights and an attack on academic freedom.
In a statement jointly signed by its National Coordinator, Oyelumade Oluwakemi, and National Secretary, Aiyedogbon Temitope, CDSR decried the university’s disciplinary process, which it described as “shambolic” and lacking transparency.
The group accused the Central Students Disciplinary Committee of acting as “judge, jury, and executioner,” denying the affected students legal support during the proceedings.
CDSR criticised the leadership of Vice Chancellor Professor Kayode Adebowale, stating that the administration’s actions mock the university’s guiding principles of knowledge and sound judgement.
The group said the suspended students were being punished for protesting against a sharp hike in school fees amidst rising economic hardship.
The suspension follows protests by student leaders against what they termed an “unconscionable” fee increment.
The group also highlighted the removal of Nice Linus, a 400-level Law student, from the Students’ Representative Council (SRC), describing it as an autocratic move aimed at silencing elected representatives and stifling dissent.
CDSR emphasised that universities should serve as platforms for intellectual engagement and democratic participation, not as institutions where students are repressed for expressing dissent.
The group called for the immediate reinstatement of the suspended students and demanded respect for student rights within the University of Ibadan.
It warned that the clampdown on student activism would not go unchallenged, vowing to expose what it described as “gross abuse of power” by university officials.
The statement read, “The Campaign for the Defence of Students’ Rights (CDSR) considers the suspension of Aduwo Ayodele, a 400-level History student, and Mide Gbadegesin, a 700-level student by the University of Ibadan an unjust violation of their rights and a blatant attack on the foundational importance of critical thinking for university-building.
“The procedure leading to this questionable and disappointing decision of the University was driven by the Central Students Disciplinary Committee. It is an indictment on the University management under Kayode Adebowale as Vice Chancellor. It is a mockery of everything the university stands for in a shambolic trial that did not permit the students legal support. The SDC was judge, jury and executioner. A grave injustice has been carried out and we are left to wonder how the university can continue with its motto – for knowledge and sound judgement.
“These are students who took up the mantle of leadership, with bravery, in the hope of impacting positive change, driven by the unconscionable decision of the University management to unleash an astronomic fee increment on the student populace at a time of grueling economic hardship. Along with Nice Linus, a 400-level Law student, who was stripped of her seat on the SRC, the University is sending a message that it would go to any lengths to punish dissent including autocratic removal of an elected student representative. This is disgraceful,” they said.
According to CDSR, “The university environment should be a place of intellectual engagements that foster democratic participation to empower young people – not a repressive arena where students are criminalised for holding up placards and expressing their right to freedom of expression.
“While the Kayode Adebowale-led management might be quick to think it has succeeded in making an example of these student activists, we want to make it clear with no equivocation that all it has done is strengthen our resolve in exposing the gross abuse of power by university officials. History shall vindicate the just and this act of tyranny shall not be left unanswered!
“We thus demand a reversal of this draconian judgment with the immediate reinstatement of the students, and unalloyed respect for student rights in the University,” they added.
