IBADAN — The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the outgoing Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Oyebode Adebowale, over allegations of corruption and what the student body describes as an “oppressive” administration.
The call was made in a strongly worded press release issued on Thursday, July 23, 2026, by the NANS President, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde Afeez (Babatée), who accused the departing VC of subjecting students to hardship through anti-student policies and victimising student leaders.
“Since my days in office as the Vice President, External Affairs of NANS, to my time in office as the Senate President and now President, I monitored your activities as the Vice-Chancellor of the great University of Ibadan,” the statement read. “On purpose, I waited until this moment, when you are leaving office, to address your infamous rule.”
The NANS President described Professor Adebowale’s tenure as “callous” and “oppressive,” accusing him of being intoxicated by power and untrustworthy with authority.
“Lo, you have proven beyond doubt to be a tyrant, an unrepentant oppressor, and a callous administrator,” Akinteye declared.
Central to the student leader’s grievances is the case of three University of Ibadan students — Mide Gbadegesin, Ayodele Aduwo and Nice Linus, popularly known as the “UI3” — who have allegedly faced continuous victimisation and unjustified suspension under Professor Adebowale’s watch.
Akinteye alleged that whenever students rose to fight for their rights, the Vice-Chancellor resorted to intimidation, suspension, and ultimately expulsion, effectively silencing the Students’ Union.
“The most terrifying part of your rule is that whenever students rose to fight for their rights, you went out of your way, as a narcissist and an unrepentant oppressor, to intimidate, suspend, and ultimately expel them,” he said.
“You did the unimaginable, punishing student leaders who sought better welfare for students. The height of it all was that you ultimately silenced the Students’ Union and made it appear like a dog that can only bark but not bite.”
The statement also cited “several allegations of corruption” as grounds for the ICPC probe, with Akinteye warning that Nigerian students would mobilise against Professor Adebowale should he be nominated for any future public position.
“Be informed that, following your tenure, if you are nominated for any position in this country, Nigerian students will mobilise massively against you,” he said.
However, the NANS President struck a conciliatory tone towards the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor, Professor Peter Olamakinde Olapegba, congratulating him on his appointment and urging him to prioritise student welfare.
“We hope that you will not toe the path of your predecessor and that you will champion the liberation of students,” Akinteye said. “Furthermore, we enjoin you to be prudent in all your dealings, be student-friendly, and ensure improved welfare and a better academic environment for students.”
Professor Olapegba was appointed as the University of Ibadan’s 14th Vice-Chancellor earlier this week, succeeding Professor Adebowale, whose tenure officially draws to a close.
The ICPC has yet to respond to the call for investigation, and Professor Adebowale could not be reached for comment at the time of filing this report.
The University of Ibadan, Nigeria’s premier university, has a long history of student activism, and tensions between successive administrations and student unions have often made national headlines.
As the outgoing VC prepares to hand over, the NANS president’s parting salvo ensures that his legacy will be hotly debated long after he leaves office.
