An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan, South-West Nigeria, has granted female Muslim students at the University of Ibadan International School the right to observe the hijab.
Judge Moshood Ishola, presiding over the court, delivered the judgment on Wednesday afternoon.
In November 2018, the secondary school refused several female Muslim students the permission to wear the hijab with their uniforms. Subsequently, the students and their parents took legal action against the school, the University of Ibadan, and certain key officials of the institution.
The secondary school operates under the ownership and management of the University of Ibadan.
The defiant students included Faridah Akerele, Aaliyah Dopesi, Akhifah Dokpesi, Raheemah Akinlusi, Imam Akinoso, Hamdallah Olosunde, Aliyyah Adebayo, Moriddiyah Yekinni, Ikhlas Badiru, Mahmuda Babarinde, and Fareedah Moshood.
In his ruling, the judge cited precedent from the Supreme Court, emphasizing the school’s obligation, as a public institution, to respect the religious rights of its students. He underscored that the school lacks the authority to infringe upon the fundamental human rights of its students.
Ishola asserted that his verdict was based on the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and other charters, which grant freedom of religion and association.
“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.”
