Court of Appeal overturns hijab ruling in UI International School case
Court of Appeal in Ibadan Overturns Hijab Ruling for University of Ibadan International School
The Court of Appeal in Ibadan has reversed a prior High Court decision that permitted female Muslim students at the University of Ibadan International School (ISI) to wear hijabs alongside their school uniforms.
The ruling, issued on Friday, stems from an appeal by the school’s management against a High Court ruling delivered on May 22, 2024.
The legal case began when 11 Muslim female students sued the school, asserting that their rights were infringed upon when they were prohibited from wearing hijabs as part of their uniforms.
In a divided ruling, the appellate court favored the school in a 2-1 decision and annulled the earlier judgment.
Justice Biobele Georgewill, who authored the lead opinion and was joined by Justice K.I. Amadi, emphasized that the University of Ibadan International School operates as a private institution and should not be equated with public schools referenced in a previous Supreme Court ruling.
“The Supreme Court judgment, which allowed hijab usage, pertained to a public school in Lagos State,” Justice Georgewill stated. He noted that this ruling does not extend to private educational institutions. He pointed out that students agreed to abide by the school’s regulations, including its dress code, upon admission.
“In public schools, hijabs can be worn with uniforms based on the Supreme Court’s ruling; however, no such decision has yet been made regarding private schools,” he added.
Justice Georgewill concluded, “The earlier judgment permitting female Muslim students to wear hijabs with their uniforms at ISI, a private school, is set aside.”
Justice Fadawu Umar provided a dissenting opinion, contending that the appeal lacked merit and upheld the previous High Court ruling, which recognized the students’ right to wear hijabs at the school.