Hijab crisis: Court grants UI International School extension of time

An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan on Friday granted an
application for extension of time filed by the University of Ibadan
(UI) International School Ibadan (ISI) in a suit filed against it
over ban on wearing of Hijab by female Muslim students.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the suit was
instituted by some Muslim parents on behalf of their daughters
after an initial protest that led to the brief shutdown of the
school.

Other respondents in the suit are the School Principal, Mrs
Phebean Olowe, the Chairman, Board of Governors, Prof. Abideen
Aderinto and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) of the
university.

NAN reports that the Muslim parents that sued the school on
behalf of their children are Taofeek Yekinni, Idris Badiru, Sikiru
Babarinde, Muideen Akerele, Abdurrahman Balogun and nine
others.

At the resume hearing of the suit on Friday, Counsel to the
respondents, Dr Babatunde Ajibade (SAN) informed the court that he
was out of time in responding to the originating summon of the
applicants.

Ajibade said he has filed an application for extension of time
and urged the court to grant his application.

The counsel to the applicants, Mr Hassan Fajimite, said he was
not opposed to the application for extension of time filed by the
respondents’ counsel.

Justice Laniran Akintola granted the application and adjourned
the matter till Jan. 11, 2019, for mention.

NAN reports that three parties seeking to be joined as
co-respondents in the matter where present in the court, but yet to
file any processes.

In the originating summon, the applicants are contending that
the action of the school authority violates their rights to freedom
of thought, religion and education as contained in Section 38
(1)(a) and 42(1)(a) of Nigeria’s Constitution.

Their counsel had urged the court to declare the school’s
continuous prevention of female Muslim students from wearing Hijab
as wrongful and unconstitutional.

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