Ibadan – The Oyo State Chapter of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has hailed a landmark judgment by the Oyo State High Court sitting in Iyaganku, Ibadan, which affirmed the constitutional right of female Muslim students to wear the Islamic hijab in all government-owned public schools across the state.
The ruling, delivered on Monday by Justice Y. S. Adekunle, declared that any directive prohibiting the use of hijab in public schools violates fundamental human rights guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The case, Suit No. I/47/2026: Sumaiya Ayanrinde & 4 Ors. v. Governor of Oyo State & 3 Ors., challenged restrictions on the use of hijab by female Muslim students, including in schools with missionary origins but now under government ownership.
In a statement issued by its Oyo State General Secretary, Mallam Ibrahim Agunbiade, MURIC described the judgment as “a resounding victory for constitutionalism, justice, the rule of law and religious freedom.”
According to the group, the court upheld that the restriction on hijab contravened students’ rights to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, freedom from discrimination, and the right to education.
The court further ruled that all government-owned schools must remain secular and impartial, regardless of their historical affiliations, and free from policies that promote religious bias or exclusion.
A key highlight of the judgment is the directive ordering the Oyo State Government to issue an official circular permitting eligible female Muslim students to wear the hijab as part of their approved school uniform. The court also granted a perpetual injunction restraining authorities from enforcing the previously contested policy.
MURIC commended the plaintiffs and their families for pursuing justice through lawful means, noting that their perseverance had yielded a historic outcome. The group also praised the legal team led by Barrister Kazeem Gbadamosi (SAN) for their diligence in defending the rights of Muslim schoolgirls.
The organisation further lauded Justice Adekunle for what it described as a well-reasoned judgment that reinforces public confidence in the judiciary.
Calling for calm, MURIC urged the Oyo State Government to comply fully and promptly with the ruling, stressing that adherence to court decisions is fundamental to democratic governance.
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It also appealed to stakeholders, including school administrators, parents and the general public, to approach the judgment with tolerance and mutual respect, emphasizing that the ruling should not be seen as a religious victory but as a reaffirmation of constitutional rights.
The group advised members of the Muslim community to celebrate the outcome peacefully and within the bounds of the law, reiterating the importance of dialogue and legal processes in resolving disputes in a democratic society.
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