By IndyPress Social Justice Desk 

On July 30, 2026, the Judicial Council of the Law Students’ Society (LSS), University of Ibadan, delivered judgment in a suit between Hon. Olaoye Hikmat, a 400-level constituency representative, and the Law Students’ Representative Council (LSRC).

The Judicial Council set aside Hikmat’s suspension on the grounds of fair hearing and awarded her ₦3,000 in damages.

However, the LSRC, led by Rt. Hon. Agboola Tariq, took more than a month to partially comply with the judgment, with the payment of the awarded damages still outstanding as of September 9.

How it started

On May 10, 2026, Hikmat was suspended from the LSRC and fined following an alleged derogatory remark about the Council.

According to the facts contained in the judgment obtained by IndyPress, the disciplinary action followed a remark she made during a conversation in her constituency’s WhatsApp group and her absence from a Council sitting held the previous day.

The judgment stated that on May 8, during a conversation in the 400-level constituency WhatsApp group, “The Trail Blazers,” Hikmat made, among other remarks, the statement: “LSRC dey gba for this faculty.”

The judgment further stated that, following the remark and her absence from the Council’s third sitting held on May 7, disciplinary sanctions were imposed on her.

These included a three-week suspension from the Council, a ₦5,000 fine, and her removal from the official LSRC parliamentary WhatsApp platform for allegedly violating Orders 1(b) and 9(c) of the LSRC Standing Orders.

Hikmat subsequently challenged the disciplinary action before the LSS Judicial Council.

Following the court proceedings between July 5 to July 30, 2026, the judicial panel, presided by Hon. Justice O.J. Peluola, ruled in favour of Hikmat, setting aside her suspension and the fine of ₦5000 on the grounds that she was not afforded fair hearing.

The Council also awarded ₦3,000 in damages to Hikmat.

Despite the judgment delivered on July 30, the affected representative was not immediately restored to the official LSRC platform.

Speaking with IndyPress, Hikmat said the Chief Whip eventually sent her the Council’s WhatsApp group link on Sunday, September 6, more than five weeks after the judgment.

“The Chief Whip sent me a link to the group on Sunday afternoon. They have not paid the fine to me,” she said.

The payment she referred to is the ₦3,000 damages awarded to her by the Judicial Council.

It is worth noting that the restoration came two days after one of her counsel, Samuel Omofala, petitioned the LSRC on September 4 over the Council’s failure to comply with the judgment.

As of the time of publication, it remains unclear why the LSRC did not fully implement the Judicial Council’s decision earlier or why the awarded damages had not been paid.