The Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan has adjourned until October 29, 2026, the legal battle between the University of Ibadan and a postgraduate student, Mr. Kayode Bello, over his alleged exclusion from the university’s graduation process.
The appeal came up before Justice Georgewill Abraham on July 3, after an earlier adjournment for court-ordered mediation between the parties.
Bello, who is representing himself in the matter, said he urged the appellate court to hear the appeal immediately, arguing that further delay could prevent him from participating in the university’s November 2026 convocation.
The appeal arose from a judgment of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, delivered in October 2025 by Justice Evelyn Maha, which reportedly ordered the university to reopen Bello’s master’s student portal and allow him to participate in convocation after completing his Master’s degree in Communication and Language Arts.
The University of Ibadan and some of its officials, including the Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, Provost of the Postgraduate College and other principal officers, subsequently appealed the judgment.
According to Bello, the mediation ordered by the Court of Appeal was held on July 1 before the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court, Mrs. Maryam Belgore, but ended without a settlement.
In a statement made available to journalists, Bello alleged that Belgore threatened him with a longer hearing date if he failed to cooperate during the mediation process.
He also accused the court official of displaying bias in favour of the university’s counsel. The allegations have not been independently verified.
Despite Bello’s request for accelerated hearing, the Court of Appeal fixed October 29 for the substantive hearing of the appeal.
Bello expressed concern that the adjournment could affect his chances of graduating in November if the appeal is not concluded before the university’s convocation.
He said the dispute, which began at the Federal High Court in 2022, has remained unresolved despite the lower court’s judgment in his favour.
Counsel to the appellants include Messrs. Frederick Ladapo, Akinade Adesokan and Tomoloju Benjamin of the law firm of the late Chief Ladosu Ladapo, SAN.