UI International School: High Court Gives Final Judgement on Use of Hijab, MURIC Reacts
- A top Nigerian court has granted female Muslim students at the University of Ibadan International School the right to wear hijab in the learning institute's premises
- The court, presided over by Justice Moshood Ishola, gave the judgement on Wednesday, May 22
- Legit.ng reports that the secondary school is owned and controlled by the University of Ibadan, one of Nigeria's leading tertiary institutions
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Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering education and public journalism.
Ibadan, Oyo state - Oyo state high court, Ibadan, has declared that female Muslim students of the International School, University of Ibadan (UI) have the right to wear hijab on top of their school uniform.
As reported by The Nation, Justice Moshood Ishola said the right to practice religion is enshrined in Nigeria's constitution.
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Delivering judgement in the suit on Wednesday, May 22, the judge noted his decision was hinged on previous Supreme Court judgements.
Justice Ishola said:
“The school, staff, or its agents have no right to punish students for using hijab on the school premises or outside the school premises.
“Fundamental human rights are inalienable rights and cannot be taken, even by the powerful government. The school is a public institution.”
It would be recalled that Muslim parents of the International School, Ibadan, led by one Alhaji Abdul Rahman Balogun, dragged the authorities of the International School Ibadan to court when eight female Muslim students were sent out of the school for wearing hijab in November 2018.
The case dragged on for six years before the judgement, which was in favour of the Muslims, was delivered on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
MURIC hails hijab victory in Ibadan court
Meanwhile, in a reaction after the judgement, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) described the court’s pronouncement as profound and cerebral.
Professor Ishaq Akintola, MURIC's director, said in a statement obtained by Legit.ng that history has been made.
The statement partly reads:
“This is a monumental judgement coming from Ibadan, the heart of Yorubaland. It is a game changer. It is our hope that our Christian neighbours, overzealous civil servants and recalcitrant teachers will respect this judgement.
"It is no longer business as usual for religious fanatics among school teachers, conscienceless government officials and Muslim haters."
Hijab legal case: Stakeholder delighted
On his part, Shuaib Afeez, a Muslim and resident of Ibadan, expressed his delight with the Oyo high court's verdict.
According to him, his in-laws were involved in the battle to have a favourable ruling on the use of hijab at the International School Ibadan.
He told Legit.ng:
"Allah is great! I'm happy about this judgement. Much happier because my in-laws were amongst those who instituted the case from the beginning.
"May it be hujjah (completion of proof) for them on the day it will matter most."
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Concerns over 750% fee hike at UI
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that condemnation continued to greet the new fee regime announced by the management of the UI in which new students are to pay between N230,000 and N412,000.
Students who spoke to Legit.ng described the new fee regime as not only outrageous but inconsiderate of the economic situation in Nigeria.
'Doyin Sophy of the Department of Agricultural Economics said she is "deeply concerned" about the proposed fee hike.
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Source: Legit.ng
