Court Grants Muslim Students Right To Wear Hijab In UI School

An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan, has granted female Muslim students of the International School, Ibadan (ISI) the right to wear hijab on their school uniforms.

ISI was established and run by the management of the University of Ibadan and the school believes it was established by its Christian founding fathers to cater to the needs of Christians and their policies.

Justice Moshood Ishola, who heard the suit instituted by some female students of the institution gave the judgment Wednesday afternoon.

The students, encouraged by their parents who had dragged the UI management to court included: Faridah Akerele, Aaliyah Dopesi, Akhifah Dokpesi, Raheemah Akinlusi, Imam Akinoso, Hamdallah Olosunde, Aliyyah Adebayo, Moriddiyah Yekinni, Ikhlas Badiru, Mahmuda Babarinde, and Fareedah Moshood.

The suit had been instituted following the controversy that ensued when some female Muslim students were prevented from entering the school by the officials of the school few years ago.

In his judgment, Ishola said he based his position on previous court judgments at the Supreme Court, holding that the school, as a public institution, should allow female Muslim students the right to wear hijab as a way of exercising their fundamental human rights.

Basing his verdict on the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and other charters, which grant freedom of religion and association, the Judge 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”, he said.