SERAP Kicks Against Move To Expel Protesting Varsity Students

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has condemned in its totality the move of the University of Ibadan over the reported plan to expel three students who participated in the May 13, 2024 protest following the hike in the tuition fees.

SERAP also threatened to sue the institution if the rustication move continued.

The management of the university had through a memo dated June 21, 2024 invited the three students to appear before the Student Disciplinary Committee for alleged insubordination and “unruly behaviour.”

The students are: Olamide Gbadegeshin of the Institute of African Studies; Aduwo Ayodele of History Department, 200 level, and Nice Linus.

Reacting to the university’s action, SERAP accused UI management of silencing dissent voices on the campus.

In a paragraph tweet on its X handle, SERAP threatened to sue the university if it expelled the students.

“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,” the organisation threatened.

However, the Director of Publicity of the university, Mrs. Adejoke Akinpelu, cautioned SERAP to stop ‘sensationilising issues’, saying the panel was yet to make its recommendations known.

She said: “We have process in UI; when students face Student Disciplinary Committee, the decision will be communicated to them, and they have the right of appeal. The students will not be expelled immediately the decision is taken.”

But another organisation, Global Rights Nigeria, also cautioned the university on the reported plan to expel the students.

The spokesperson for the group, Damilola Decker, in a statement said: “The university should understand why students will feel the need to protest a significant increase in tuition fees.”