Amnesty International kicks against suspension of university of ibadan students over protest in fee hike

The Amnesty International (AI) Nigeria has kicked against the suspension of three students of University of Ibadan (UI), Oyo State, who were rusticated for protesting school fees hike last year.

Penpushing reports that the Amnesty International in a written letter to the institution which was signed by its Director Isa Sanusi asked the authorities to reverse the suspension of three students who were rusticated for protesting school fees hike last year.

The organisation in the letter addressed to the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ayoade Adewale, also asked the university to desist from victimising the students, pointing out that the victimisation and rustication of the students violates their rights to educational development, freedom of expression and assembly.

“Amnesty international hereby draws the attention of the University of Ibadan that the freedom of expression and assembly are guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), international and regional human rights instruments’, the letter reads.

“The rights can only be restricted if in the interests of national security, public safety, public order, public morality, public health or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others’, it added

Penpushing further reports that Amnesty International similarly called on the university to always ensure that justice, accountability and respect for human rights are upheld.

The organization argued that the raising of placards against the increment of school fees remains within the students’ right to freedom of expression and assembly and does not fall within the allowable restrictions.”

Penpushing also reports that it would be recalled the university suspended two of three students for four semesters after it accused them of gross misconduct for raising placards to protest a fee hike by the institution last year.

The university accused them of disrupting the swearing-in ceremony for the newly elected Student Union executives on 13 May, 2024, but the students maintained they had only raised placards that read ‘FEE MUST FALL’ without chanting or leaving their positions, while they were removed from the venue and the ceremony continued.

Penpushing reports that the University authorities insisted their actions contravened the rules and regulations governing students’ conduct in the university.

Meanwhile, the students already suspended are Ayodele Aduwo and Mide Gbadegesin, while the third student, Nice Linus, is still facing the disciplinary committee and hasn’t been suspended yet.

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