UI Threatens Student Activists With Disciplinary Action For Demonstrating Against School Fees Hike

The Management of the University of Ibadan (UI), through the Student Affairs Division of the institution, has accused and summoned some students, Olamide Gbadegesin; Mr. Aduwo; Nice Linus, and Adeyeye Oluwafemi of disrupting the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected Students’ Union Executives of the institution.

This was contained in a letter from UI’s Student Affairs Division, and signed by the institution’s Deputy Dean of Student Affairs, T.I Musa.

The management further stated that some students of the institution; Olamide Gbadegesin; Mr. Aduwo; Nice Linus and an ‘unknown person’, Adeyeye Oluwafemi carried placards with “scandalous inscriptions against school fees increment.”

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“If this allegation is true, your actions constitute an act of Gross Misconduct, particularly unruly Behaviour in the presence of the Vice Chancellor and other members of the University Management

“Please forward your response with supporting documents, if any, to the Deputy Registrar (Stodents) within 48 hours of the receipt of this letter, stating why disciplinary action should not be taken against you on sccount of this allegation.

“Failure to respond to query within the period stipulated above and/or deliberate release of fake Information constitites an act of misconduct which may result in automatic suspension of your studentship.”

However, during an interview, one of the protesters in the May 13 demonstration, Adeyeye Oluwafemi explained that the protest was non-violent.

Oluwafemi explained that they were demonstrating peacefully when security officials arrested and assaulted them leading to severe injuries to the protesters, which included a lady.

He said: “There was a symbolic demonstration on May 13, during the swearing-in of the new UI’s Student Union Executives, it was a continuation of the National struggle against fee hike across Nigeria tertiary institutions; from UNILAG, UNIBEN, UI, and other tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

“UI hiked school fees from #20,000 to #200,000, and for that reason, I joined student activists at UI. During a speech by the new SUG President, myself, together with other student activists raised placards, to express the grievances of students against the school fee hike.

“We were only peacefully demonstrating, while the event continued quietly, until they brought their security officers into the event hall, and the security officers assaulted us, injured us brutally, including a lady. Later, they brought soldiers and NSCDC officers, from operation burst, Agodi, so they took us away, and we were later released, after about 4 hours.

“Now, they are bound to victimise the student activists for expressing their displeasure against the school fees hike. But one thing that I will unequivocally restate is that the struggle to fall fees will continue, while we begin media actions, press conferences and lawyers are standby.”