SUNTV Global Channel | July 5, 2026
The Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan has adjourned the legal dispute between the University of Ibadan (UI) and postgraduate student Kayode Bello over his delayed graduation until October 29, 2026.
The case centers on Bello’s inability to graduate after completing his Master’s degree in Communication Arts in 2023.
Following the court’s decision, Bello alleged that the adjournment came after an unsuccessful mediation process and claimed he was warned that the case could face a longer delay if he failed to cooperate during the court-ordered reconciliation. His allegations have not been independently verified, and no response from the court official was included in the report.
According to Bello, the appeal came up before a panel led by Justice Georgewill Abraham on July 3, where he requested that the matter be heard immediately. However, the court fixed October 29 as the next hearing date.
The student expressed concern that the adjournment could prevent him from participating in the University of Ibadan’s November 2026 convocation ceremony.
The dispute began after Bello’s postgraduate student portal was reportedly blocked, preventing him from completing the graduation process despite finishing his academic programme.
In October 2025, the Federal High Court in Ibadan ruled in Bello’s favour and ordered the university to reopen his student portal to enable his graduation. However, the University of Ibadan appealed the judgment, putting its implementation on hold pending the outcome of the appeal.
Earlier, the Court of Appeal had directed both parties to explore an out-of-court settlement through mediation before the Deputy Chief Registrar. However, the mediation reportedly ended without an agreement, prompting the court to adjourn the matter for further hearing.
The case, which has been in court since 2022, continues to attract public attention as Bello maintains his legal battle while representing himself throughout the proceedings.
The Court of Appeal is expected to resume hearing on October 29, 2026, when both parties will return to argue the appeal.
