Osun Muslim Students Warn Deputy Governor Against Violating Court Judgment on Hijab

Osun State Muslim Community have called on Governor Rauf Aregbesola to warn his deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori, against violating the judgment of the court that guaranteed female Muslim students their right to cover their heads in the state public primary and secondary schools.

The Muslims in a letter written by their counsels, Kazeem Odedeji, also urged the Governor to call the principals of public schools in the state to order against disobedience to court order.

Odedeji recalled that his clients had patient from 2013 while the case was in court, until the court delivered judgment on June 3rd, 2016, in favour of the Muslim female students.

“However, there are some of the principals and head-teachers who continue to sabotage the effort and with impurity disobey the judgment of the court by disallowing the female Muslim Students the use of hijab in their schools.

“These heads of schools and teachers still claim that the said schools belong to the Christian missionaries and over their dead bodies would they allow hijab to be used in those schools.

“They also claim to have full support for their action in the deputy governor of the state, Mrs. Titi Laoye Tomori with collaborators among some security agencies especially some local directors of department of the state security.

“The principals include but not limited to Mr. Ojekunle, the principal of Baptist Government High School; Iree, Mr. Anthony Famoriyo, the principal of St. Charles Government High School, Osogbo and Mrs. Agboola, the principal of African Middle School, Iree.

“Your Excellency, perhaps the Deputy Governor and her collaborators need to be reminded that her office and that of principals and head-teachers of all public Secondary and Primary Schools in the state are parties in the case and none of them has appealed against the judgment of the Court.

“Therefore, they are bound to respect and enforce the judgment. Even, if they had appealed against the judgment, it is an elementary point of law that an appeal does not operate as a stay.

“Moreso, an application filed by the Christian Association of Nigeria, the body they are tactically protecting has, not long after it was filed, collapsed and the court has struck out same.

“It is against the above background we hereby call on your Excellency to call the deputy governor and her collaborators to order. We wonder why the deputy governor, who is a product of the rule of law, could be a hindrance against the constitution which she swore to uphold.

“Finally, we need to state, at this juncture that should they continue in their lawlessness and religious bigotry, we are already compiling the list of the recalcitrant and bigot heads of schools, education administrators, teachers or any person infringing on the rights of our clients and we shall waste no time in moving the court to commit them to prison for disobedience to court judgment among other suits we are ready to file against them in their personal capacities.

“Some principals may have to finish their career in prison to serve as deterrent for others.
Read the Letter bellow;

K.B.ODEDEJI & CO.
(LEGAL PRACTITIONERS)
OFFICE: 43 Ayetoro Street, Suites 15 &16,
Ojuolape Shopping Complex, Osogbo.
Tel: 08038550335
E – Mail: qaasimbhusayn@yahoo.com.au
17/10/16
The Executive Governor,
State of Osun,
Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola,
Governor’s Office,
Bola Ige House, Abere.

Your Excellency,

RE: HOS/M17/2013; SHEIKH SALAWUDEEN ADE OLAYIWOLA &3 OTHERS VS. THE GOVERNOR OF OSUN STATE & 8 OTHERS.

THE NEED TO CALL MRS. TITI LAOYE-TOMORI; THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR AND SOME PRINCIPALS OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO ORDER AGAINST DISOBEDIENCE TO COURT JUDGMENT.

We act as solicitors to Osun State Muslim Community, the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, other applicants and entire Muslim Students in Public Primary and Secondary Schools in the Sate of Osun. They are hereinafter called “our clients” and we have their firm instruction to write this letter to your office.

Your Excellency would recall that the above stated suit was filled before the High Court of Justice, Osun State in 2013 on behalf of the female Muslim Students in all Public Primary and Secondary Schools in Osun State to enforce the fundamental rights of the said female Muslim Students to the use of Hijab in all Public Primary and Secondary Schools in the state.
During the pendency of the suit, the applicants and their members allowed the status quo to be maintained and waited patiently for the judgment of the court to be pronounced. This was done in their belief in the rule of law and maintenance of peace and decorum in one’s bid to enforce his/her right as contained in Islamic teachings.
IN CHAMBER: K.B. Odedeji Esq. LL.B (Hons) Ilorin; LL.M; B.L
L.S. Bello, Esq. LL.B. (Hons) Bayero, B.L
Meanwhile, succour came the way of our clients when on 3rd day of June, 2016,
judgment was delivered and all the reliefs sought on behalf of our clients were granted and the court declared that the right of the female Muslims in Public Schools to the use of Hijab within and outside the school premises should be protected in accordance with section 38 and 42 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) while injunctions were granted against all the respondents from further denial of our clients’ right.

It is heart warming to the state that the female Muslim Students in some of the Public Schools have started to enjoy the fruit of the judgment of the court while principals and teachers of those schools understand the judgment as binding on them being parties in that case.

However, there are some of the principals and head-teachers who continue to sabotage the effort and with impurity disobey the judgment of the court by disallowing their female Muslim Students the use of hijab in their schools. These heads of schools and teachers still claim that the said schools belong to the Christian missionaries and over their dead bodies would they allow hijab to be used in those schools. They also claim to have full support for their action in the deputy governor of the state, Mrs. Titi Laoye Tomori with collaborators among some security agencies especially some local directors of department of the state security. The principals include but not limited to Mr. Ojekunle, the principal of Baptist Government High School; Iree, Mr. Anthony Famoriyo, the principal of St. Charles Government High School, Osogbo and Mrs. Agboola, the principal of African Middle School, Iree.

Your Excellency, perhaps the Deputy Governor and her collaborators need to be reminded that her office and that of principals and head-teachers of all public Secondary and Primary Schools in the state are parties in the case and none of them his appealed against the judgement of the Court. Therefore, they are bound to respect and enforce the judgment. Even, if they had appealed against the judgment, it is an elementary point of law that an appeal does not operate as a stay. Moreso, an application filed by the Christian Association of Nigeria, the body they are tactically protecting has, not long after it was filed, collapsed and the court has struck out same.

It is against the above background we hereby call on your Excellency to call the deputy governor and her collaborators to order. We wonder why the deputy governor, who is a product of the rule of law, could be a hindrance against the constitution which she swore to uphold.

Finally, we need to state, at this juncture that should they continue in their lawlessness and religious bigotry, we are already compiling the list of the recalcitrant and bigot heads of schools, education administrators, teachers or any person infringing on the rights of our clients and we shall waste no time in moving the court to commit them to prison for disobedience to court judgment among other suits we are ready to file against them in their personal capacities. Some principals may have to finish their career in prison to serve as deterrent for others.

A stitch in time saves much more than nine.

Thanks

Yours faithfully

K. B.  Odedeji Esq.

CC:
The Deputy Governor & Commissioner for Education,
State of Osun.

The Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Education
State of Osun

The Permanent Secretary
State Universal Basic Education Board
State of Osun

The Chairman
ANCOPPS, Osun State.

The chairperson
AOPSON

Mr. Ojekunle
Principal, Baptist High School, Iree

Mr. Anthony Famoriyo
The Principal St. Charles Grammar School, Osogbo

Mrs Fagbola,
The Principal, African Church Middle School, Iree.

All principals of Secondary Schools in
Osun State.

All Head-teachers of Primary Schools in Osun State.

The Commissioner of Police
Osun State Command Headquarter,
Osogbo.

The State Director
Department of State service (DSS)

The State Commandant,
Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps

The State Commandant
Peace Corps
Osun State Command

Osun State Muslim Community.

MSSN, Osun State.

All Muslim Organizations in Osun State