UI queries students over fee hike protest, threatens suspension
By Innocent Raphael
The management of the University of Ibadan (UI) has issued formal queries to two students involved in a recent protest against a fee hike on campus.
Gbadegesin Olamide, a student from the Institute of African Studies, and Aduwo Ayodele, a 200-level student in the Department of History, received memos dated May 24, 2024.
The memos, signed by the institution’s Deputy Registrar (Students), T.I. Musa, warned the students of potential suspension if they failed to respond promptly to the query with any supporting documents.
This development follows the May 13 incident where four individuals, including Gbadegesin, Aduwo, Oluwafemi Adeyeye, and Nice Linus, were detained by the Nigerian Army during a protest against the university’s fee hike.
The memo, delivered to the students on May 27, accused them of disrupting the inauguration of the newly elected Students’ Union executive with their protest, describing their actions as disrespectful and gross misconduct.
“The Student Affairs Division has received a report from the Office of the Vice-Chancellor stating that on Monday, May 13, 2024, you and three other students, including Adeyeye Oluwafemi (an unknown person), disrupted the swearing-in ceremony for the newly elected executive of the Students’ Union,” the memo read.
“At this event, Olamide Gbadegesin Iyanuoluwa, Nice Linus, Adeyeye Oluwafemi, and Aduwo Ayodele carried placards with scandalous inscriptions against school fee increments.
“If this allegation is true, your actions constitute an act of gross misconduct, particularly unruly behavior in the presence of the Vice-Chancellor and other members of the university management,” Musa continued.
The students were given a 48-hour ultimatum to defend themselves and explain why disciplinary actions should not be taken against them, with a warning that failure to comply might result in suspension.
“Please forward your response with supporting documents, if any, to the Deputy Registrar (Students) within 48 hours of the receipt of this letter, stating why disciplinary action should not be taken against you on account of this allegation.
“Failure to respond to the query within the period stipulated above and/or deliberate release of false information constitutes an act of misconduct which may result in the automatic suspension of your studentship,” the memo concluded.
