The University of Ibadan (UI) has suspended Aduwo Ayodele, a final-year history student, for his participation in a peaceful protest against the recent hike in tuition fees. The suspension, announced in an internal memorandum dated July 14, 2025, will last for four academic semesters. Ayodele, who was actively involved in the protest held during the Students’ Union event on May 13, 2024, has also been barred from engaging in any student union activities and mandated to undergo counselling as part of his punishment. The protest, which took place on UI’s campus, saw dozens of students gather to express discontent over the steep increase in school fees. University security operatives arrested Ayodele alongside activists Femi Adeyeye, Nice Linus, and Mide Gbadegbesin. Eyewitnesses alleged that the students were physically assaulted before being transferred to the Operation Burst security unit, a joint military task force in Oyo State. Following the arrests, the university initiated disciplinary proceedings against the students. The July memorandum, signed by Deputy Registrar (Students), S.O. Oyewumi, accused Ayodele and others of “insubordination/unruly behavior” and disrupting the swearing-in ceremony of the 2023/2024 Students’ Union executives. The students, however, have consistently argued that their actions were a legitimate, non-violent protest rather than an act of insubordination. Despite widespread public condemnation and appeals from student rights groups and human rights advocates, the university proceeded with Ayodele’s suspension. Critics have described the institution’s response as part of a growing trend of repression against students who challenge unpopular decisions within Nigeria’s public universities. “Suspending students for exercising their right to protest is a direct attack on academic freedom and the right to dissent,” said a statement from a student rights coalition in Ibadan. As of press time, the University of Ibadan has yet to issue any official response to the mounting criticisms surrounding its handling of the disciplinary case. The development comes amidst broader debates about the affordability of tertiary education in Nigeria, with tuition hikes sparking protests across several campuses nationwide.