Court accepts expelled student’s audio evidence against UI

A Federal High Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, has accepted audio evidence tendered by a student, Philip Olatinwo, who was expelled by the Senate of the University of Ibadan.

The Counsel to the university, Sunday Ajayi, had wanted the court to adjourn the case to enable him to call the university’s security guard, who searched Mr Olatinwo at the hearing of the Students’ Disciplinary Committee (SDC), as a witness.

Mr Ajayi had also prayed the court to reject the audio evidence, which accused principal officers of the institution of unfair hearing, on the basis that the plaintiff ought not to have recorded the proceedings.

Following the admission of the audio evidence, it was played in the open court and the defendants’ counsel asked the court to discountenance it because it did not indicate the start and end of proceedings resulting in the expulsion of the plaintiff.

However, the court ruled that the defendants’ counsel would still have an opportunity to bring in witnesses and defend the parties.

It should be recalled that On March 6, 2017, Mr Olatinwo, a 400-level student activist of the department of veterinary medicine of UI was expelled by the university management over the allegation of disruption of dinner party organised by the students of Queen Idia Hall in the university.

However, according to the controversial audio recorded with a smartphone, the student was not expelled but suspended from academic activities for four semesters. However, the student had maintained his innocence on the allegation, asking the panellists in the institution to prove otherwise.

Further hearing on the case is expected to come up in February 2019.