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

Justice Ladiran Akintola of 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 parents of female Muslim students of University of Ibadan (UI) International School Ibadan (ISI) over refusal of the school to allow their children wear Hijab on their school uniforms.

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, the School Principal, Mrs. Phebean Olowe, the Chairman, Board of Governors, Professor Abideen Aderinto and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) of the university and three others.

DAILY POST recalls that the University of Ibadan International School had last year banned female Muslims students in the school from wearing Hijab on their school uniform. 

The refusal of the school to allow the students later generated some itches, which led to the closure of the school for some days.

The Muslim parents consequently on behalf of their wards sued the institution. The parents included: Taofeek Yekinni, Idris Badiru, Sikiru Babarinde,Muideen Akerele, Abdur-rahman Balogun and nine others.

The applicants counsel, Fajimite, 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.

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

Counsel to the applicants, Mr. Hassan Fajimite, told the court that he was not oppose to the application for extension of time of one of the respondent.

Fajimite, however, said that he was recently served with the application for extension of time and the preliminary objection.

He said that he was yet to respond to it on point of law and that he intend to respond to the processes of all the respondents at the same time.

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