Relief and gratitude filled the air on Thursday afternoon as Miss Olowofela Abidemi Oluwabukola and her mother visited the office of their legal counsel in Akure following her release from Madonna University’s Elele campus.
Abidemi, a 20-year-old medical student, arrived in Akure late Wednesday night after leaving the university in Rivers State, bringing to an end days of tension and public concern surrounding her alleged restriction on campus over unpaid tuition fees.
Speaking on the development, counsel to the family, Tope Temokun, Esq., expressed gratitude to Nigerians who rallied support for the student during the ordeal.
According to him, the visit by Abidemi and her mother to his office on Thursday was a moment of relief and appreciation for everyone who stood by the family.
“We give glory to God for her safe return and for the strength she has shown throughout this experience,” Temokun said.
He also acknowledged the outpouring of support from Nigerians both within the country and in the diaspora, noting that several individuals provided financial assistance and moral support to the family.
Temokun explained that some benefactors who contributed financially preferred to remain anonymous.
“We appreciate the great Nigerians who showed genuine concern and went the extra mile to send support to her financially, though we do not have their permission to mention their names,” he said.
He further revealed that a number of individuals and organizations have already expressed willingness to assist Abidemi in securing admission into another institution and supporting her medical education.
The lawyer also acknowledged the role played by human rights activist Omoyele Sowore in ensuring the student’s safe journey home after her release.
According to him, Sowore insisted that Abidemi should not undertake the long road journey and personally funded her flight from Port Harcourt to Lagos. From Lagos, he also arranged and paid for a chartered vehicle that conveyed her safely to Akure when no direct flight was available.
Temokun described the gesture as an act of solidarity that deserved sincere appreciation.
Abidemi, who hails from Ilawe-Ekiti in Ekiti Southwest Local Government Area but grew up in Akure, is widely regarded as an outstanding student. Her academic record includes five A1 distinctions in her O’Level examinations, a UTME score of 310, and a perfect 5.0 CGPA in her first-year medical studies.
Her ambition, according to her counsel, remains to become a medical doctor.
“Our immediate focus is ensuring that she resumes her medical education without disruption,” Temokun stated.
He called on the Ekiti State Government, Ekiti indigenes, educational foundations, and well-meaning Nigerians to assist in providing a pathway for the student to continue her medical training.
Supporters willing to assist, he said, can reach the family through the provided contact channel.
The development comes days after a formal petition was submitted to the management of Madonna University and several federal oversight bodies over allegations that the student was restricted from leaving the campus due to unpaid tuition fees.
The petition was addressed to the Vice-Chancellor of the university, the National Universities Commission (NUC), the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), and the Federal Ministry of Education.
According to the petition, Abidemi’s family faced a sudden financial crisis following her father’s illness, which made it difficult to complete the ₦3.5 million tuition fee required for the Medicine and Surgery programme, despite partial payments and requests for additional time.
The petition alleged that the student was barred from sitting four examination papers and was prevented from leaving the campus even after submitting a letter of withdrawal dated February 24, 2026.
It also claimed that her name was publicly displayed over unpaid fees and that she was excluded from academic activities.
Counsel to the family had earlier warned that failure to release the student could lead to a fundamental rights enforcement action against the institution, including claims for damages over alleged violations of her constitutional rights.
As of the time of filing this report, the management of Madonna University had not issued an official response to the allegations.
Chronicles Reporters will continue to monitor the situation and provide further updates as developments unfold.