The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa has commended the judiciary for ordering the reinstatement of three student activists of the University of Ibadan popularly known as the “UI 3,” following a ruling by the Federal High Court Ibadan Division.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the organisation called on the university to immediately comply with the judgment delivered by Justice Nkeonye Evelyn Maha and reinstate Aduwo Ayodele, Mide Gbadegesin, and Nice Linus, while also demanding an apology to the affected students.

According to CAPPA, the judgment affirms students’ constitutional rights to freedom of thought and expression as guaranteed under Sections 38 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The organisation further referenced portions of the court proceedings in which the students alleged they were forcibly removed from a students’ union inauguration venue by university security officials and later handed over to a crowd that assaulted them before being transferred to members of the Operation Bust unit.

CAPPA noted that the court observed that the university authorities did not deny the allegations during proceedings.

Reacting to the judgment, CAPPA’s Assistant Executive Director, Zikora Ibeh, described the decision as a strong signal against the suppression of student activism.

“The court’s decision sends an unequivocal message to the University of Ibadan and other academic institutions nationwide that the use of authoritarian tactics to stifle legitimate dissent is unlawful and unacceptable,” CAPPA’s Assistant Executive Director, Zikora Ibeh said.

“The university must reflect on this moment and recommit to their core mandate of fostering critical thinking and nurturing independent minds,” she added.

According to the statement, the events leading to the disciplinary actions against the students began on May 13, 2024, when the trio displayed placards bearing the inscriptions “No To Fee Hike” and “Fees Must Fall” during a students’ union inauguration ceremony.

Following the incident, Aduwo Ayodele and Mide Gbadegesin were later rusticated for four semesters after disciplinary proceedings by the university, while Nice Linus was removed from her elected position as a legislator in the Student Representative Council.

The students subsequently approached the court to challenge the disciplinary measures, alleging that the sanctions were imposed for exercising their right to peaceful expression.

It also described the situation as reflective of a broader pattern in Nigerian tertiary institutions where student activism, particularly around fee-related issues, is met with disciplinary sanctions.

The organisation also commended the students for pursuing the case and acknowledged the role of their legal representatives, including Joseph Opute and O. Onifade, in securing the judgment.

Reaffirming its support, CAPPA stated that it would continue to provide advocacy support for students facing disciplinary actions linked to peaceful protest across tertiary institutions in the country.

“Universities should be spaces where ideas are contested and authority is questioned. When administrations resort to suspensions and intimidation, they risk turning campuses into zones of fear rather than forums of debate,” it stated.

It further called on university authorities to adopt more transparent and participatory processes when implementing policies affecting students, particularly those relating to fee adjustments.