Court of Appeal Overturns Hijab Ruling at UI International School

The Court of Appeal in Ibadan has set aside a lower court’s judgment that allowed Muslim girls at the University of Ibadan International School to wear the hijab with their uniforms. In a split decision of two judges to one, the appellate panel ruled that UI International School is a private institution and not bound by a Supreme Court ruling on public schools. Justice Biobele Georgewill, leading the majority opinion, held that the right to religious expression can be waived when students agree to a school’s uniform policy. He noted that the Supreme Court decision on hijab use applied only to public schools in Lagos, and no such ruling yet covers private schools. In dissent, Justice Fadawu Umar argued the appeal lacked merit and would have upheld the high court’s decision in favor of the students. The Appeal Court’s ruling overturns the May 22 judgment, reinstating the school’s ban on hijab uniforms for its female Muslim students.

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