By Vincent Ufuoma

THE Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has threatened to sue the management of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) if it fails to reinstate Ifemosu Michael Adewale within 72 hours.

Mr. Adewale, a 200 level student of the Department of Forestry and Wild-life Management in the institution was expelled from the institution over a Facebook comment he made to draw the attention of the public to an indiscriminate arrest of his colleagues by the police and incessant robbery attacks on campus.

“Authorities of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), @unaabweb should immediately reinstate Ifemosu Adewale, expelled over a Facebook post. We’re giving FUNAAB 72 hours to reinstate Mr Adewale, failing which we’ll pursue legal action against the authorities.

“Mr Adewale drew the attention of the public to the alleged indiscriminate arrest of his colleagues by the police and incessant robbery attacks on the campus.

SERAP said expelling a student for speaking against the anomalies in his or her school violates the right to freedom of expression and academic freedom of such student. It maintained that such action will exacerbate impunity for corruption in higher institutions.

It said, “posting complaints on Facebook is NOT a crime.”

“No student should ever be expelled for exercising their right to criticize University authorities. Attacking students who dare to complain flagrantly violated their right to freedom of expression, academic freedom, and exacerbates impunity for corruption in higher institutions.

It called on Nigerian institutions of learning to stop the harassment, intimidation, and expulsion of students who exercise their human rights and academic freedom.