Justice Laniran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan, Oyo, on Friday advised parties in the ban of Hijab wearing legal tussle, to seek out of court settlement.
NAN reports that some female Muslim students of the International School Ibadan (ISI) had protested the institution’s ban on the wearing of Hijab over their school uniforms within the school premises.
The students’ parents, who filed the suit on behalf of their wards, are Taofeek Yekinni, Idris Badiru, Sikiru Babarinde, Muideen Akerele, Abdurrahman Balogun and nine others.
The respondents in the suit include the University of Ibadan, the Principal of International School, Ibadan, Mrs Phebean Olowe, Chairman, Board of Governors, Prof. Abideen Aderinto and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) office.
The applicants, through their counsel, Abdulwahab Egbewole, had filed the suit via originating summons.
They are asking the court to declare as illegal, wrongful and unconstitutional the school authority’s declaration that Muslim female students could not wear the hijab over their school uniforms during school hours.
They are alleging that the order violates their right to freedom of thought, religion and right to education as contained in section 38 (1)(a) and 42(1)(a) of the constitution.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Friday, Counsel to the respondents, Babatunde Ajibade, told the court that he was informed that other students had filed applications seeking to be joined as parties in the matter.
Mr Ajibade then urged the court to adjourn the matter to allow the students ample time to properly file their applications before the next hearing date.
Justice Akintola, while granting the request for adjournment, advised the parties to try and leave in harmony as one family irrespective of religious affiliations.
The judge, however, adjourned the matter until February 20 for mention.
