Emmanuel Thomas I Wednesday, May 31, 2023
IBADAN – After years of prolonged legal battle, reprieve came the way of former President, Student Union Government, University of Ibadan, Aderemi Ojo(2016/17) when a court sitting in Ibadan declared his suspension from the ivory towers null and void restored his full rights as a student of the school.
Aderemi Ojo was a 400-level student of HISTORY when he was rusticated in 2017 by the University of Ibadan for allegedly leading his fellow students in a protest and he sought protection of the court.
Delivering judgement on the matter, Justice Uche Agomoh of a Federal High Court, Ibadan declared the suspension of the student null and void and ordered his reinstatement as a student with full rights.
Reacting to the judgement, Aderemi Ojo said that although he has served the full term of the unjust punishment he is happy that he got justice.
“A clean record and salient vindication and a reiteration that evil wins only when good men do nothing. As I had totted up a measure of popularity, I do admit that there has not been a shortage of solidarity and encouragement.
“Those words, gestures, stances of support from people of conscience across many places will forever form significant part of sweet memories. The taste of injustice was bitter, but we will dare to savour justice now that we have it even far more.
“And friends, in all of these, I still find there is no greater fight, no higher pursuit than to hold up one’s principle, the highest of all human virtues. If I get a chance to live the past again, I will avoid this or that mistake, but I will never abandon my principles.
“I fought and won for myself, for people with genuine convictions and for all time. This is who I am and will continue to be; a proponent of justice against all odds”, he said.
He thanked his lawyers, led by Olad Adeosun for handling the matter pro bono, ‘a true gift one cannot buy’, he said.
“Today, we won in court, against all odds, against the machineries and insinuations of the opposition we faced! After general appeals failed and other cunning Greek gifts evaporated, I decided to leave it all at the legal route, and I did. Through COVID-19, JUSUN strikes, judicial vacation and transfer of judges, the matter became tad lengthy, ending today 30th May 2023”
“Special thanks to Barr. Ola Adeosun and his brilliant team of lawyers for absolute commitment, handling the matter pro bono – a true gift money cannot buy. I’m also really grateful to family and the real friends who understood and supported my yearning and personal pursuit of a cause I believe is just, Aderemi Ojo said.
