The Supreme Court says the Lagos state government cannot restrict the use of Hijab by female Muslim students in its public primary and secondary schools.
The Apex Court in a split decision of a seven-man panel of Justices, of five to two, affirmed the earlier decision of the Lagos Division of Court of Appeal, which nullified a High Court judgement that banned female students from wearing Hijab with their school uniforms.
The court, in its lead majority verdict prepared by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun but read by Justice Tijani Abubakar, dismissed as lacking in merit, an appeal Lagos state government lodged against the Court of Appeal decision.
The Supreme Court ruled that there is no reason to reinstate the October 17, 2014 judgement by Justice Grace Onyeabo of the High Court of Lagos State, which upheld the ban on Hijab.
Editor’s note: Picture used for story is that of Students of International School Ibadan (ISI). The Students are currently in Court to challenge the ban on Hijab in their School.