A former student is suing Richmond American University London for £98,000 in damages after being expelled for posts on X that she claims were made by an impersonator. Sarah Mbabazi was expelled in 2024 following a complaint about hate speech related to the Israel-Gaza conflict, allegedly posted from an account mimicking her handle.
Mbabazi argued she was being cyberbullied and presented digital evidence, but the university said there was insufficient proof. The Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA) upheld her complaint, citing the university's failure to properly explain its decision or provide a written summary of the panel meeting. A new panel later found no evidence she authored the tweet and allowed her to re-enrol.
Mbabazi says the offered damages do not cover her financial losses, including a year of lost funding and career impact, and she seeks a full apology. She has filed a civil claim in county court. A hearing date has not been set.
The university stated it is committed to fair processes but declined to comment on individual cases.
