Justice Moshood Ishola of the Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan, the state capital, yesterday granted female Muslim students at the University of Ibadan International School, Ibadan (ISI) the right to wear hijab on top of their school uniforms.
Justice Moshood Ishola said the right to practice religion is enshrined in the constitution adding that his decision was based on previous Supreme Court judgments.
Some Muslim pupils of the school, backed by their parents, filed the suit against the school management in 2018. They insisted they have the fundamental human right to wear hijab on their school uniform. Also joined in the suit were some principal officers of the school.
The plaintiffs are Faridah Akerele, Aaliyah Dopesi, Akhifah Dokpesi, Raheemah Akinlusi, Imam Akinoso, Hamdallah Olosunde, Aliyyah Adebayo, Moriddiyah Yekinni, Ikhlas Badiru, Mahmuda Babarinde, and Fareedah Moshood.
Justice Ishola said the school, being a public institution, should allow female Muslim pupils the right to wear hijab. He also noted that in addition to the constitutional provisions, some charters grant freedom of religion and association.
He added: “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.”
