The Supreme Court, Friday, quashed the ban by the Lagos state government on the use of Hijab by female Muslim students in its public primary and secondary schools.
The decision was made by a 7-man panel of Justices of the apex court, in a split decision of five to two.
By the verdict, the panel has affirmed the earlier decision of the Court of Appeal Lagos, which had set aside a judgement of the High Court that restricted female students from wearing Hijab with their school uniforms.
In a lead majority judgement that was prepared by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun but read by Justice Tijani Abubakar, the Supreme Court dismissed as lacking in merit, the appeal by the Lagos state government against the appellate court’s decision.
The apex court said it found 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.
The court gave the judgment in an appeal – Lagos State Govt. and Ors V. Asiyat AbdulKareem with suit number SC/910/16.
Justice Kekere-Ekun held that the ban on hijab was discriminatory against Muslim students in Lagos state.
Four other justices of the court agreed with the lead judgment,but two justices dissented.
Other Justices on the panel were Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, Justice John Inyang Okoro, Justice Uwani Aji, Justice Mohammed Garba, Justice Tijjani Abubakar, and Justice Emmanuel Agim.
Meanwhile,the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) has expressed satisfaction over the ruling of the Supreme Court on the Hijab controversy in public schools in Lagos, warning against the harassment of students, going forward.
MSSN in a statement,said the judgement will now give Muslim students the liberty to wear their Hijabs without fear of molestation or intimidation.
The President) of the association in Lagos, Miftahudeen Thanni, warned teachers and government officials against harassment of female Muslim students.
Thanni, who commended the supreme court judgement, also said the apex court verdict should put a stop to the “undue” punishment of students willing to wear the hijab.
He added that the judgement has deepened the students’ and Nigerians’ confidence in the judiciary, saying there should not be any violation of human rights against the students.
He urged the state government not to delay the implementation of the judgement.
“The judgement simply means that though hijab is not mandatory in Lagos schools, Muslim students who wish to wear it are free to do so and is legally allowed.The government should not be waging war against youths who chose to cover their nakedness while encouraging those who walk naked and engage in illicit acts in public.
“We hereby urge all stakeholders to be law-abiding for a peaceful implementation of the judgement.There should be no violation of human rights against our students while we expect an immediate implementation of the judgement in all schools across the state. We urge the government not to delay implementation.
Public Students In Lagos Can Wear Hijab,Supreme Court Rules
