UI hijab crisis: Court fixes June 25 for hearing of preliminary objection

An Oyo State High Court in Ibadan on Tuesday fixed June 25 for
hearing of preliminary objection in a fundamental human right suit
filed by Muslim parents of female students of University of Ibadan
(UI) International School Ibadan (ISI)’s over the school’s refusal
to allow their children wear Hijab on their uniform.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the preliminary
objection was filed by Mr Tunde Olutayo, one of the respondents in
the matter.

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

Olutayo, through his counsel, Mr Jide Owoyemi, also filed an
application for extension of time to allow him file his processes
and urged the court to grant it.

In his response, Counsel to the applicants, Mr Hassan Fagimite,
told the court that he was not opposed to the application for
extension of time.

Fagimite, however, said that he was recently served with the
application for extension of time and the preliminary objection and
was yet to respond to it on point of law.

He told the court that he intends to respond to the processes of
all the respondents at the same time.

Justice Laniran Akintola granted the application for extension
of time and adjourned the hearing of the preliminary objection till
June 25.

It would be recalled that ISI had banned female Muslims students
in the school from wearing hijab on their school uniform and the
female Muslims student protested against the decision as a
violation of their fundamental human right.

NAN reports that some Muslim parents instituted legal action
against the institution on behalf of their children and they
include: Taofeek Yekinni, Idris Badiru, Sikiru Babarinde, Muideen
Akerele, Abdur-rahman Balogun and nine others.

The applicants counsel, Fagimite, in his originating summon had
said that the action of the school authority violates the
applicants’ right to freedom of thought, religion and right to
education as contained in section 38 (1)(a) and 42(1)(a) of the
constitution.

He urged the court to declare the continuous refusal of the
authority of ISI to allow the female Muslim students wear hijab on
their school uniform as wrongful and unconstitutional.

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