Eight UI school pupils sue varsity over hijab – TheNigerialawyer

Eight students of the International School, University of Ibadan
have individually filed actions before the Oyo State High Court
seeking to confirm their rights to wear hijab in school.

The controversy about wearing hijab to the school became a
public issue in November last year when some parents under the
aegis of UI-ISI Muslim Parents’ Forum petitioned the University of
Ibadan, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) UI who doubled as
chairman of the Board of Governors of the school; the school
principal, Mrs Phebean Olowe, and the school for disallowing their
wards to wear hijab.

The Muslim parents on behalf of their wards approached Oyo state
High Court in Ibadan, asking it to mandate the school to allow
their wards to use hijab to school.

But Justice Ladiran Akintola of the state High Court 9 on
Tuesday, June 25 struck suit.

Akintola premised his judgment on the fact that the section of
the constitution on human rights issues should be filed
individually and not collectively as done by the parents.

The Chairman, Muslim Parents’ Forum of the School, Alhaji
Abdurahman Balogun, on Sunday said the applicants had complied with
the court directive to file the matter individually.

Balogun said, “We are back in court. This is to inform you all
that sequel to court directive to file the matter individually as
regards fundamental human rights, we have since complied and new
cases assigned.

Balogun maintained that the decision of the students to return
to court was simply to “liberate our children and Muslims who were
oppressed, intimidated and coerced not to express their faith,
freedom as guaranteed by the constitution of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria.

Subscribe ToNairalaw News!