Protest, as court adjourns ruling on hijab in Lagos schools

Hopes that an Ikeja high court would deliver a ruling on the ban of hijab in Lagos state public schools were dashed on Friday, as the court adjourned ruling on the matter for the second time in two months.

On July 5, 2014, Justice Modupe Onyeabor had adjourned the case to Friday, and on Friday, it was again moved to October 17.

Announcing the adjournment to a disappointed crowd of Muslims awaiting the court sitting, chairman of the Lagos state chapter of Muslim lawyers, Barrister M.A. Sanni said: “The court is not sitting; hence the case had to be adjourned till October 17, 2014. Please come around on the day of the final ruling.”

As soon as this information was made available to the Muslim community present, they initiated a peaceful protest from the court premises through the police college road to other parts of the Ikeja community, displaying placards conveying their displeasure with what they termed an attempt to outlaw hijab-wearing in the state’s public schools.

Some of the placards read: “No Hijab, no vote,” “#Bringbackourhijab,” “Don’t encourage nudity,” “No law can take our hijab,” and “Don’t politicise our religion”.

The state government had initially resorted to out-of-court settlement when the case opened in May 2013, but counsel to the state, Barrister Lawal Pedro (SAN), told the court that the arrangement broke down.

Counsel to the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Barrister Hassan Fajimite, branded the adjournment “unnecessary delay tactics”.

“The state is not really interested in the settlement,” he said.

Hijab, a veil used to cover the head and chest, is particularly worn by Muslim girls and women in the presence of adult males.

The rumpus about hijab-wearing in schools began in February 2013, when principal of Kadara Junior Grammar School, Ebute Meta, Mrs. E. C. Ukpaka flogged 14-year-old pupil, Aisha Alabi, for “stubbornly wearing hijab against the rule of education in the state”.

The beating was succeeded by series of protests by MSSN at the office of the state governor and the premises of the Lagos state house of assembly, after which the body filed a law suit seeking to reverse the state government’s opposition to the clothing appendage.

But the state government maintained its position; and in May 2013, commissioner for education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye said a meeting of all parties agreed that wearing of hijbas should not be condoned in public schools.

“I summoned a stakeholder’s meeting that was chaired by the commissioner for home affairs and culture, Alhaji Oyinlomo Danmole. The Muslim students were represented at the meeting; lawyers were represented. We discussed the issue at length and we reached certain agreements,” Oladunjoye said during an activity to commemorate the sixth anniversary of Governor Babatunde Fashola’s administration.

“We agreed that students could only use their hijab when they want to go for prayers, when they want to read Qur’an, and when they are going for Jumat prayer on Fridays.

“It was agreed that no student should wear Hijab on her uniform. Doing so, will cause confusion and break down of the law. Whoever wishes that his daughter should be wearing Hijab while going to school and within the school should send such child to a private Muslim school.”