The Federal High Court in Ibadan on Wednesday ordered the reinstatement of three students of the University of Ibadan, who were suspended for protesting over a hike in school fees on May 13, 2024.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the applicants, Aduwo Ayodele, Gbadegesin Iyanuoluwa, and Linus Adaoma, instituted the suit against the University of Ibadan and its Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, over their suspension for four semesters.

The applicants had protested during the inauguration of the institution’s newly elected student union executive on May 13, 2024, carrying placards and demanding a reduction in school fees.

The applicants, through their counsel, Mr Adedayo Ajani, prayed for an order of the court to mandate the respondents to reinstate the applicants as students of the institution, attend lectures and participate in union activities.

Ajani further urged the court to set aside the decision of the disciplinary committee dated July 14, 2025, for infringement of their rights by not given them a fair hearing, treating them like criminals and handing them over to the state joint security network, Operation Burst.

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Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Nkeonye Maha said the institution has the right to discipline students, but this must be done fairly and within the law.

Maha said that failure to adhere to a fair hearing by the disciplinary committee of the institution rendered the action taken against the suspended students nullity.

The judge stated further that there was no evidence before the court that the peaceful protest of the students disrupted the completion of the inauguration of the newly elected student union executives of the institution.

“I hereby set aside the decision of the institution’s disciplinary committee and order the reinstatement of the suspended students and as well restore their full studentship from May 13, 2024,” she said.

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The judge also restrained the institution and its agents from further subjecting the applicants to any disciplinary measure with respect to the matter.(NAN)