Kayode Ted Adams (died October 1969) was a student activist at the

University of Lagos The University of Lagos (UNILAG) is a Public university, public research university located in Lagos, Nigeria, which was founded in 1962. UNILAG is one of the education in Nigeria#First generation universities, first generation universities in ...

(UNILAG) who became controversial in 1965 after stabbing then-Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University of Lagos, Saburi Biobaku.

Attack on Saburi Biobaku

Following the non-renewal of Prof

Eni Njoku Eni Njoku (6 November 1917 – 22 December 1974) was a Nigerian botanist and educator. He was vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos (1962–1965) and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1966–1970). He served in the Nigerian House of Represen ...

's term as Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof Saburi Biobaku was appointed VC by the government of Sir

Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (December 1912 – 15 January 1966) was the first and only Prime Minister of Nigeria, Prime Minister of Nigeria. A dominant figure of Nigerian Independence, he was a conservative Anglophile. His political career spa ...

, then

Prime Minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...

Nigeria Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...

. The decision was unpopular among UNILAG students, who perceived ethnic favoritism in Biobaku's appointment. During Biobaku's outreach to the UNILAG community in June 1965, Kayode Adams approached the podium and stabbed Biobaku in the back. The incident led to tensions, resulting in the shutdown of UNILAG for several months.

Trial

Adams was arraigned for stabbing Biobaku, raised a defense of insanity, and pleaded not guilty. Despite his insanity defense, Adams was found guilty of attempted murder, confined to the Yaba Psychiatric Hospital, and rusticated from UNILAG.

Death

Adams was found dead at Bar Beach, presumably from drowning in October 1969.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Adams, Kayode 1969 deaths University of Lagos alumni 20th-century births Nigerian activists