Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan, the state capital on Friday advised all parties involved in a suit filed by parents of some female Muslim students of University of Ibadan International School Ibadan (ISI) over the use of Hijab to settle the matter amicably.
DAILY POST recalls that some female Muslim students of ISI had protested against the institution for violating their fundamental human right by not allowing them to wear Hijab on their school uniform.
The respondents in the suit filed by the parents of the students on behalf of their children are: ”the University of Ibadan, the school, its Principal, Mrs Phebean Olowe and Chairman, Board of Governors of the school, Professor Yinka Aderinto who doubles as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) University of Ibadan.
The Muslim parents who filed the suit on behalf of their children are: Taofeek Yekinni, Idris Badiru, Sikiru Babarinde, Muideen Akerele, Abdurrahman Balogu and nine others.
They maintained that the action of the authority of ISI violates the applicants’ 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, Akintola, who had joined other parties seeking to be joined as co-respondents, said Nigerians hold it a duty to ensure that they lived peacefully with one another.
He maintained that, “As Nigerians, be it Christians or Muslims, met this country peacefully and must ensure to let it remained peacefully as we met it.
“We must ensure not to create unnecessary tension or heat up the politics in other not to further divide this country.
“It will be proper if you can resolve this matter amicably and relate with one another as human beings.
“We will all regret it if we make ourselves and the nation in such a way that we cannot sleep with our two eye closed”.
Counsel to the respondents, Babatunde Ajibade (SAN), told the court that he was informed that other parties are also seeking to be joined in the matter.
Ajibade urged the court to adjourn the matter for mention and not for hearing in other to accommodate the intending parties.
Counsel to the plaintiffs, Abdulwahab Egbewole (SAN), said he was not opposed to the parties seeking to be joined but urged them to file their process on time so as to conclude the matter as quickly as possible.
Egbewole urged the court to declare the continuous denial of the authority of ISI to allow the female Muslim students from wearing hijab on their school uniform as wrongful and unconstitutional.
But, Akintola after listening to the parties then adjourned the matter till February 20th for mention.
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