ISI Hijab Crisis: Court Allows Traditionalists, Others To Join Suit

..urge parties to consider amicable resolution

JUSTICE Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court sitting at
Ringroad, Ibadan on Friday granted leave to two other parties to
join the suit filed by 14 students of the International School
Ibadan (ISI) on behalf of the ISI Muslim Parents Forum to contest
the restriction of use of hijab on uniforms within the school after
the claimant indicated they had no objection to the
application.

The 14 pupils (all minors) filed the suit against the University
of Ibadan, ISI, Mrs Phebean Olowe, the ISI principal and Professor
Abideen Adeyinka Aderinto, the chairman board of governors of the
ISI to ask for court orders for the enforcement of their
fundamental rights to freedom of thought, conscience and religion
and freedom from discrimination, right to dignity of human persons
and right to education.

The parties allowed to join the suit as co-respondents are Tunde
Olutayo Aro, on behalf of his daughter, Iteoluwakishi Aro, the
2017/2018 social perfect of the school and Babalawo Awosanmi Abe
for his children Fatunmishe Abe and Fawoke Abe on behalf of members
of traditionalist parents forum of ISI.

Babalawo Abe in his applying joins the suit stated that his
children who are traditionalists and Ifa worshippers were stopped
from freely practising their religion by preventing them from
entering the school premises for adorning traditional beads, a sign
of their faith because it was not part of the prescribed school
uniform.

The purpose of joining the suit according to him is to seek
redress and enforce the alienable rights of association and allow
traditionalists represent their religious beliefs through adornment
in the school which is the same rights being sought to be enforced
by the Muslim Parents forum.

Also, two other parties indicated their interest to join the
suit; the secular parents’ forum and the body of Alumni. The two
bodies informed the court that they will file the necessary
processes before the next sitting on the matter.

Before adjourning the matter for the other parties to file their
papers, Justice Akintola urged the parties not to heat up the
polity unnecessarily and explore options of an amicable
settlement.

“We are all Nigerians, we met this nation peaceful and we must
ensure that it remains so. We owe the nation that duty. We should
all not unnecessarily heat up the polity. I am talking to all the
parties.

“I believe an amicable resolution is best. Don’t let us further
divide ourselves. Don’t overheat the polity. I want parties to
sleep over this, meet and resolve the issue,” Justice Akintola
stated.

The case was adjourned till February 20, 2019, for mention with
an order that all interested parties file the necessary documents
before the date.