LAUTECH Suspends Six Students Over Protest, Information Leak
The management of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Oyo State, has suspended six students for four semesters over their alleged involvement in a protest and the unauthorised dissemination of official university information on social media.
The university said the protest, which took place on February 17 and 19, 2026, was triggered by the Senate’s decision to transfer the Departments of Anatomy and Physiology from the College of Health Sciences to the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences.
The affected students are John Olorunfemi of the Department of Anatomy, and Samuel Jesuloba, Taofeek Alege, Damilare Onabanjo, David Abolade and Basheerah Muritala of the Department of Physiology, all from the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences.
In separate suspension letters dated May 26 and obtained by TheCable, the university said the sanctions were approved by its Senate after reviewing reports submitted by the Student Disciplinary Committee.
According to the letters signed by the Registrar, Olayinka Balogun, Jesuloba, Alege, Olorunfemi, Abolade and Muritala were found culpable of participating in the protest, which reportedly led to the closure of the gates of the College of Health Sciences.
The university stated that their actions constituted misconduct and violated both the matriculation oath and institutional regulations.
“The Senate, in line with university policy, approved your suspension from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, for four semesters effective from the Harmattan Semester of the 2025/2026 academic session,” the letter stated.
The institution directed the affected students to stay away from all university premises during the suspension period and indicated that they would be eligible to resume their studies in the 2027/2028 academic session upon completion of the sanction.
Onabanjo was separately sanctioned over allegations of leaking official university information on social media. The university accused him of unauthorised dissemination of Senate decisions relating to the relocation of the Anatomy and Physiology departments, describing the act as a breach of university regulations and the matriculation oath.
Reacting to the development, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) condemned the suspension, describing it as unjust and a violation of students’ fundamental rights.
In a statement issued on Friday, NANS President Akinteye Afeez argued that the students were punished for participating in a peaceful protest, which he said is protected under Sections 39 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution guaranteeing freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.
“My attention has been drawn to the unjust suspension of students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology following a peaceful protest. Any management that chooses this path, denying students their fundamental rights and subsequently punishing them for exercising those rights, has only demonstrated oppressive and authoritarian tendencies,” he said.
Akinteye called on the university management to immediately reverse the suspension and directed the NANS Zone D Coordinator and the Oyo State Joint Campus Council Chairman to intervene in the matter.
He further warned that the student body could relocate its national secretariat to the university if the sanctions are not withdrawn, insisting that no student should face disciplinary action for lawfully expressing grievances.
Source: The Cable