By : Feranmi Gabriel

Global human rights organisation, Amnesty International, has called on the University of Ibadan authorities to rescind plans to expel three students for protesting against outrageous fee hike introduced in the ongoing 2023/2024 academic session.

The human rights organisation called on the management of University of Ibadan to rescind its ploy to victimise or ultimately suspend the dissenting students.

Olamide Gbadegeshin of the Institute of African Studies; Aduwo Ayodele of History Department; and Nice Linus, had faced a disciplinary panel on Tuesday, July 2, 2024.

Earlier on Monday, May 13, 2024, the students were apprehended and bundled into a van by officers of the Nigerian Army after a protest against the fee hike held on the occasion of the Students’ Union inaugural ceremony.

On May 27, through query letters, the three students were accused of disrupting the inauguration of the current Students’ Union administration through their protest, which the management described as “disrespectful” and “gross misconduct.”

“Amnesty International call on the University of Ibadan @UniIbadan to rescind plans to expel 3 students for exercising their human right; by participating in protest against outrageous fee hike that — so far — forced many students to withdraw from university education” Amnesty International Nigeria wrote on Twitter.

Also, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given the University of Ibadan 48-hours to rescind its plan to victimize to sanction the three on no other ground than for demonstrating against the inflated fee policy of the University.

“The University of Ibadan must end the misuse of its authority to silence dissent on campus and drop its unlawful plan to expel three students for reportedly protesting against huge increase in fees. We’ll see in court if the University fails to do this within 48 hours,” SERAP tweeted on Thursday, June 4, 2024 evening.