Forum files fresh 11 cases – TheNigerialawyer

The last may not have been heard on the controversy trailing the
wearing of hijab by female Muslim students of the International
School, Ibadan as the parents’ forum under the aegis of ISI Muslim
Parents Forum, on Friday, said, it has refilled fresh 11 cases to
legally pursue the case to a logical conclusion.

The parents also said it has petition relevant authorities
including the National Human Rights Commission, Abuja, Director
General of DSS, the Inspector-General of Police, the Ministry of
Education, management of University of Ibadan among others.

Addressing journalists after staging a protest at the Bodija
Housing Estate Mosque, Bodija, Chairman ISI Muslim Parents Forum,
Alhaji Abdulrahaman Balogun said every effort by the parents to
settle the matter out of court had proved abortive as the
management of the school refuse to shift ground but insisted that
the status quo on the uniform must be maintained.

The protesting students who filled at the gate of the mosque
after Friday Jumat Service said they will resist any attempt to
deny their children their fundamental rights legally, legitimately
and peacefully.

Balogun said “The constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria has given everyone the guarantee and any attempt to deny
any of our children of any of such fundamental human right will be
resisted legally, legitimately and peacefully.

“We have two appellate judgements in the case of Lagos and
Ilorin in support of hijab right and we are just awaiting the
judgement of the supreme court on it. And we expect that a Nigerian
and in a public-owned school, even if it is a privately owned
school, you have to obey the constitution of the Federal Republic
Nation. And this is our point.

“In doing that peacefully, because the thing is now leading into
a dangerous height, because when you are now attacking our kids,
harassing the parents, then it is getting too dangerous, so we have
petitioned the National Human Rights Commission, we have petition
the DG DSS, we have petition the IG of Police and we have petition
the Ministry of Education, even the University Authority.

“It is my pleasure and honour to announce to you that we have
refilled our case against the University of Ibadan, we have
refilled our case against the management of ISI, we have refilled
our case against Mrs Phebean Olowe and we have refilled our case
against the DVC (Academic), Prof E.B. Ekanola and they would have
been served the court proceedings. We have filled 11 different
cases in line with the details of the courts.

“We had three meetings to settle out of court, we shifted ground
and asked them to tell us the mode of dressing the school wants in
terms of shape, mode, colour, size and others, but they are saying,
no, the status quo must be maintained.

“But the school rules and regulations of ISI, there is nothing
there other than section 7 that says that student cannot wear
hijab. There is nothing in the books that prevents our daughters or
anybody willing for that matter to adorn hijab, let alone the
constitution of the FRN. Even, if there is anything like that, the
constitution of FRN supersedes any other enabling law. And if it
was not contained there, then why are they harassing our girls?