A final-year student of Babcock University, Joshua Lawson, has tragically ended his life after being suspended for a year over alleged examination malpractice.
He was due to graduate on July 27.
The incident has sent shockwaves across the Babcock community and beyond, with students and sympathisers flooding social media with tributes and criticisms of the institution’s disciplinary measures.
Confirming the incident in a phone interview with PUNCH on Friday, the university’s Director of Communication and Marketing, Dr. Joshua Suleiman, said Lawson had been found guilty of examination misconduct by the disciplinary committee and given a one-year academic suspension.
“The school is aware of the tragic incident,” Suleiman said. “He was a 400-level Computer Science student.
“He faced the university disciplinary committee for examination malpractice; he was found guilty and handed a one-year academic suspension.
“He has not even come for his suspension letter, maybe he got to know about the suspension. But we don’t know whatever happened thereafter. We only heard that the student took his life.”
The university’s confirmation has further fuelled an emotional outpouring online, with many students mourning the loss and calling for more humane policies within the institution.
One student wrote on social media, “How can someone be so close to the finish line just a month to their convocation, and suddenly, everything gets ripped away because of an ‘exam misconduct’ case? Two years’ suspension? Cancelling an entire semester?
That’s not just punishment… that’s destruction. This isn’t just about rules anymore. This is a life. A dream.
“A family’s pride. And now that life is gone to suicide. Even if the person made a mistake, where is the compassion? Where is the support? Where is the humanity?”
Another added, “If this school does not stop some of their stupid policies or actions, it will continue getting worse!!! Like whyyyy…??”
Reacting to the backlash, Dr. Suleiman stressed that while the university deeply regrets the tragedy, its policies are in line with institutional standards.
“The university is never happy that anyone dies, in fact, we wish this never happened and we commiserate with the family,” he said.
“However, like every institution and organisation, the university has its rules that the staff and the students are well aware of, and these rules also come with their penalties which are usually applied once an infraction is established.”
He maintained, “Like I said earlier, we are not happy that anybody dies, certainly not.”
The late Joshua Lawson’s death comes amid growing national conversations about mental health, academic pressure, and the role of disciplinary actions in Nigerian higher education institutions.
