Awo Hall SRC Members Petition UI Management To Reinstate Disqualified Member, Nice Linus

The members of the University of Ibadan Students Representative Council representing Obafemi Awolowo Hall have in an open letter to the school management petitioned for immediate compliance with the court order granting Nice Linus temporary reinstatement.

"We, the honourable members of the Obafemi Awolowo Hall constituency, 12 th assembly formally petition for the immediate compliance with the Federal High Court's order mandating the reinstatement of Hon. Nice Linus as a Majority leader and a Member of the University of Ibadan Students' Representative Council, 12th Assembly," the petition read in part.

"Despite the clear directive of the court, no official memorandum has been issued

to this effect. Furthermore, regardless of the fact that the court order has been

sent to the council leadership, we find that the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Shoge Quadri has

vehemently refused to acknowledge the court’s injunction, failing to reinstate

Hon. Nice Linus or add her to the official 12th Assembly group," they continued.

"This petition aligns with the University’s core values of fairness and justice. We

strongly urge the University administration to uphold the rule of law by ensuring

immediate compliance with the court order and reinstating Hon. Nice Linus without further delay."

This is coming after the UI'SRC released a letter signed by the speaker, Rt. Hon Shoge Quadri and the clerk, Hon. Adedeji Praise in which the speaker declined to reinstate Nice according to the dictates of the court order, citing various reasons.

Disqualified Member, Nice Linus, Writes To SRC; Notifies Council of Court Order

Disqualified UI'SRC member, Nice Linus has on Friday written to the Students Representative Council to notify it of a court order granting her temporary reinstatement as a member of the 12th assembly.

The letter dated Friday, 28th of March, 2025, and addressed to The Students Representative Council through its clerk had attached copies of the court order.

"Sequel to the internal memorandum dated March 4, 2025, addressed to the Speaker of the 11th Assembly, only shown to me, I was prevented from performing my democratic duties as a duly elected honourable member of the 12th Assembly by the then speaker, who removed me from the 12th Assembly’s official group," the letter read in part.

"Similarly, I was disallowed from partaking in the inauguration ceremony, even assaulted at the venue."

"With no adequate response coming from the Students' Representative Council, Executive Council and the management, I was left with no other option but to seek legal redress. I filed an ex parte application on March 12, wherein I sought for five reliefs, amongst them, an order quashing the decision of the Deputy Registrar as contained in the internal memorandum, as well as an order that leave granted to apply for the reliefs sought by me should act as stay of proceedings, suspending the decision of the School management until the case is heard and determined," the letter continued.

Nice had, at the conclusion of the March 1, 2025 Student Representative Council elections, returned elected as the majority leader of Obafemi Awolowo hall before she was disqualified by the deputy registrar, Mr T.I Musa, who was also the chairman of the Students Union Electoral Commission.

Recall that Indy press had on Thursday reported that The Federal High Court, Ibadan granted an ex-parte application suspending the disqualification of Nice Linus as a member and majority leader of the Students' Representative Council, University of Ibadan, until the completion of the court hearing on the matter.

The order also stated that the leave granted by the court would serve as an injunction, putting the University of Ibadan's decision, as contained in the March 4 internal memo which orders Nice's disqualification, on hold pending the determination of the motion on notice to be filed. 

Consequently, Nice Linus is temporarily reinstated by the court order until the court case filed is determined.

Suspicious Individual Apprehended In Zik Hall, Delivered to Abefele by Defence Team

Emmanuel ADEBIYI

At around 10:30 pm on Monday, at Block A of Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall, a suspicious individual was apprehended. 

This is coming after a series of complaints of theft on the Issues Affecting Zik Hall group about stolen laptops, clippers, power banks, and others.

Eyewitnesses claim that he had been sighted at various places in the hall before, and another person said he saw the face roaming around A3 before the confrontation by Zikites, where he claimed to be going to the toilet while not holding anything that suggests so, before claiming again that he was looking for a certain 'Samuel' who he couldn't call when he was asked to. 

He was led to D14 by the Hall Chairman-elect Sotomi Daniel, and the Speaker of the House, Adetunji Samson. He wasn't allowed to be touched, as nothing was found in his hands, and there was no concrete evidence of him stealing. 

The suspect was then eventually delivered to the University Security Unit 'Abefele' by the defence team and was taken away.

When reached out to for comments, the Defense Minister,  Emiola Waliu, said: "The guy was caught on one of the floors at A block, no exhibit was found on him but due to the tensed atmosphere in the hall on security threats, he was mistaken for a thief due to his incoherent responses when questioned by zikites . He was led to D block since no evidence was found on him to avoid zikites beating him."

"One of the strict rules the campus security service is keen on is ensuring that suspect are not wounded beyond recognition before arresting them. The CSO was contacted immediately to avoid that which was when some officers came and took him away," he continued.

Waliu further revealed that he visited Abefele's office on Tuesday morning and since no exhibit was found on the individual, he has since been released.

Zik Hall Chair Apologizes To UCJ For SU Election Incident

Idris

 Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall Chairman, Oluwadamilare Fabiyi Caleb popularly know as Fadaca , has issued an apology to the Union of Campus Journalists following the incident in the recently  concluded Students' Union election in which pressmen were removed from the Hall's WhatsApp group.

In an open letter made available to Zikpress on the 22nd of March 2025, Fadaca admitted to removing UCJ members from 'Issues Affecting Zik Hall' WhatsApp group and apologized for the controversial statements he made regarding the press and their stand in securing accommodation for the forthcoming session. 

"I am writing this article today to address recent tensions that arose in relation to the last Students’ Union election. Specifically, first, to tender an unreserved apology; and second, to provide context for my actions. I find it pertinent because of the level of respect I have for the UCJ and the need to give appropriate context to the general public on the issue that transpired that day," the statement read.

"Firstly, I sincerely apologize for removing members of the University of Ibadan Campus Journalists (UCJ) from the "Issues Affecting Zik Hall" group, irrespective of the provocation that led to it. Additionally, I deeply regret the statement I made regarding the press and accommodation. It was an angry remark made in the heat of the moment, which I take full responsibility for and now unequivocally retract. Moreover, I acknowledge that I do not have the authority to implement such a statement. I earnestly hope that the members of UCJ will accept this apology in good faith. Throughout my time on campus, spanning seven years, my principles have been firmly rooted in justice, equity, and fairness. I have always championed these values and have never aligned myself with oppression in any form. Many members of the UCJ can attest to my longstanding dedication to student advocacy and the fight for fairness," the statement continued.

"Furthermore, to provide clarity, the group in question is one of the most respected and structured forums in our hall, even including the presence of the hall warden. The level of decorum expected in this group is high, and the discussions are considered internal matters, often addressing issues exclusive to hall residents. Members are encouraged to communicate through the executives for formal engagement, particularly when engaging with the warden. At the time of the incident, a publication was released concerning the warden’s remarks on the election process, though harmless remarks but internally seen as a message not worthy of publication. The publication came as a screenshot from within a group that is traditionally seen as a safe space for discussions among Zikites, this kind of action was not expected of anyone that is a learned member of the hall. The publication might be easily misinterpreted externally by people with opposing political views, putting the hall warden in an unfavorable light. Therefore, with expectation that everyone on the group is expected to respect the sanctity of the group, the pressmen on the group were removed as an apparent solution to give the expected privacy."

 He admitted that his assumptions about the UCJ's involvement in the leak were unfounded as he later discovered that the group was compromised, and he would have wished not to respond in this manner. 

"In hindsight, I acknowledge that I made an unfounded assumption that the screenshots were shared by members of the press in the group since the publication was made by the press, this might not actually be true as I later discovered that the group was externally compromised. However, these assumptions led to my actions and those remarks, for which I once again apologize. It is also important to state clearly that, the election results were yet to be announced and the actions were as a result of the sensed compromise on the expected level of sanctity and privacy of the group and not because of the election results," the statement continued.

"In closing, I extend my deepest appreciation to the campus journalists for their unwavering dedication to upholding the truth. I believe in your mission and your commitment to objectivity, and I sincerely hope that this apology and contextual clarification will be received in the spirit of mutual respect and understanding," the statement concluded.

BROTHERS FIGHT

 Image credit: Cindy Zhan Saatchi Art

Hope we haven't allowed louts in the house.

I mean, we are all supposed to be intellectuals.

It was in front of a tank

HayDee and HayErm wanted to fight

Maybe because it was in the night

Thought no one would see them, how smart. 

They weren't even afraid of the CCTV staring.

Well, even I don't know if it is working.

Or really, what if it lands them in SDC.

Anyway, only 8 months they've used, restarting is easy.

They have just been elected to be leaders.

Hope we haven't allowed louts in the house. 

I mean, we are all supposed to be intellectuals.

What a pity, look at those who are to lead us.

She is my coursemate, look somewhere else.

Before you know it, we've got a torn shirt. 

What more could make two brothers quarrel?

Of course, it is the other people in skirt.

AnkaraMessi

Geo/Chem Defeats Pos/Psych 1 - Nil to Emerge Survival Cup Winners

By: Dynamite 

The Geology/Chemistry team on Friday, 14th of March, 2025 defeated the Political Sciences/Psychology team by a lone goal to emerge the new champions of the Survival Cup tournament.

The tournament, which started on the 26th of February, 2025, had ten teams in total who participated. Given that the rules allowed two departments to combine to form a single team, the departments of Physics and Petroleum Engineering, IPE and Civil Engineering, KHE and ASSE, Microbiology and Zoology, and Political Sciences and Psychology combined to form single teams. While the departments of Computer Science, Pharmacy, Economics and Sociology came as their own teams. The competing teams were separated into two groups of five teams each, with the top two from each group progressing to the semifinals.

The Geology/Chemistry team defeated the Physics/Petroleum Engineering team while the Pos/Psych team defeated the Computer Science team to get to the finals. 

In the keenly contested final, Geology/Chemistry took the narrow lead through a penalty in the second half. A penalty that came through a foul made on Sammy, their number 14 player in the penalty box, a penalty which their number 2, Kadasa, converted.

 Political Sciences/Psychology subsequently increased the intensity of their attacks, but their efforts were further frustrated when their number 11 got a red for a reckless tackle, an action which confirmed the Geology/Chemistry team's win.

At the end of the match, awards and medals were presented to some of the players. Dayo from the Political Sciences/Psychology team was awarded the player of the tournament. Uthman (Political Sciences), Mide (Geology/Chemistry), Kadasa (Geology/Chemistry), Bayo (Geology), Paul (Computer Science), Obinna (Political Science), Demilade (Political Sciences/Psychology), Ozil (Geology/Chemistry), Dayo (Political Sciences/Psychology), and Somod (Physics/Petroleum Engineering), as well as Salam the goalkeeper of Geology/Chemistry team, were announced as part of the team for the tournament.

Speaking to Zikpress after the tournament, the UI'SU sports secretary, Victor Kolawole described the tournament as a interdepartmental competition for 200 level students, stating that the competition started four years ago as an initiative of former SU sport secretary, Olawale Joshua Bamidele (OJB).

Zik Hall JCR and SCR Renovation Commences

By: Emmanuel Adebiyi

Renovation efforts have started on the Zik Hall Junior and Senior Common Rooms. As at afternoon of Thursday, 13th of March, 2024, workers were seen in the Junior Common Room with some building materials also close by.

The Hall Warden, Dr. Adelekan Okunlade, had earlier addressed issues affecting the hall community on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, while the hall executives subsequently released a memo on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, confirming the commencement of the renovation project.

According to the Hall Chairman, Fabiyi Caleb Oluwadamilare, the renovation of the Junior Common Room (JCR) has been a priority since the beginning of the session.

Fabiyi, further stated that the hall management had initially sought support from the alumni body by presenting a funding proposal, but with no substantial outcome, they had to explore other options to ensure the project’s completion.

He then revealed that the project is being financed by the university through the hall management, adding that it follows the recent construction of a toilet at the alumni block earlier in the session.

Commending the efforts of the Hall Warden, Fabiyi noted that Dr. Okunlade has remained committed to the hall's development and has been proactive in making necessary requests to the university administration for essential projects.

Fabiyi also stressed the need for a JCR that is functional and accessible to all Zikites rather than an excessively grand structure that may discourage student use. 

Zik Press Holds Handover Dinner, Inaugurates New Editorial Board

Asefon Abdulganiy 

Zik Hall Press Organization has on Monday, 10th of March, 2025 held its end-of-session dinner and hangout.

 The event, which kicked off with games, was attended by notable guests, including Olanshile Ogunrinu, President of the Union of Campus Journalists; Fabiyi Damilare, Chairman of Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall; and David Omotosho, a representative of the Elders Council and former Vice Hall Chair.

The event also saw the presentation of awards and recognition to outstanding members. Akanni Oluwasegun emerged as Best Inductee, Fafure Kehinde as Most Industrious, and Kolawole Oluwagbenga as Pressman of the Year.

In his address, Olanshile Ogunrinu, President of the Union of Campus Journalists, commended the organization's efforts and acknowledged the significance and the contributions of Zik Press to campus journalism in UI. The Hall Chairman, Fabiyi Damilare, and former Vice Hall Chair, David Omotosho, also took turns in praising and extolling the organization's activities and qualities.

The outgoing editorial board members were honored with awards, and a new editorial board was inaugurated. The new members are as follows: Fafure Kehinde - Chief Correspondence Officer, Awoyeku Olayinka - Entertainment Editor, Adebiyi Emmanuel - Features/Health Editor, Akanni Oluwasegun - News/Politics Editor, Olalekan Marvellous - Managing Editor, Adediran Faith - Deputy Editor-in-Chief, while Oluwagbenga Kolawole was appointed as the new Editor-in-Chief.