Court Rules JAMB Cannot Force UTME Candidates to Remove Hijab

An Oyo State High Court has ruled that JAMB cannot require female UTME candidates to remove hijab before they can sit for the examination. The court held that such a requirement violates the constitutional right to freedom of religion. Justice Y. S. Adekunle ruled in favour of a candidate who was reportedly stopped from writing the April 2025 UTME at a CBT centre unless she removed her hijab. The court found both JAMB and the centre operator jointly liable for infringing her fundamental rights. The court ordered separate public apologies to the claimant in two national newspapers. It also awarded ₦10 million in damages and ₦500,000 in legal costs against the defendants.

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