Appeal Court Hijab Verdict ‘Travesty of Justice’, MURIC Vows to Fight On

IBADAN – The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has described Friday’s Court of Appeal ruling that overturned a High Court judgment permitting female Muslim students of the International School, University of Ibadan (ISI-UI), to wear the hijab as a “travesty of justice” and a “forced abortion in the temple of justice,” vowing to take the matter to the Supreme Court .

In a statement issued on Saturday by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, the Islamic human rights organisation rejected the appellate court’s majority decision, which held that ISI-UI is a private school and therefore not bound by previous Supreme Court rulings allowing hijab use in public schools . The three-member appellate panel, in a split decision of two to one, set aside the May 22, 2024 judgment of the Oyo State High Court, which had ruled in favour of 11 female Muslim students who challenged the school’s prohibition of the hijab as part of the school uniform .

The legal battle over the hijab at ISI-UI has lasted approximately seven years, beginning in 2018 when the school barred female Muslim students from wearing the headscarf with their school uniform . Eleven students, supported by MURIC, instituted legal action contending that the policy violated their constitutional rights to freedom of religion and freedom from discrimination .

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Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Biobele Georgewill, with Justice K.I. Amadi concurring, held that ISI-UI qualifies as a private institution because it does not receive government subventions . The majority further ruled that the constitutional right to freedom of religion is a personal right that can be waived, and that the students had voluntarily waived that right by signing an undertaking to obey the school’s code of conduct, including its dress code . “In public schools, you can wear the hijab on school uniforms based on the judgment of the Supreme Court, but the Supreme Court is yet to make any decision on the use of hijab in private schools,” the court held . However, Justice Fadawu Umar dissented, holding that the appeal lacked merit and should have been dismissed, affirming the lower court’s decision .

Professor Akintola argued that the ruling contradicts established legal principles and global best practices regarding religious freedom . “This is a travesty of justice, a forced abortion in the temple of justice and an inexplicable judicial somersault. This pronouncement cannot stand parri passu global best practices,” he said . The MURIC director maintained that even as a private school, ISI-UI has no right to violate the fundamental human rights of Muslim students, particularly since the Nigerian Constitution clearly states that no private rules or regulations can override its stipulations . “It is a basic principle in the Nigerian legal system and around the world that a lower court cannot overrule the decision of a higher one, how much more in a case that the Supreme Court had given a pronouncement. It is well known that the Nigerian Supreme Court ruled in favour of the hijab since July 2022,” Akintola stated . He further described the ruling as a “blatant assault on our norms and established social decorum” that has “made a caricature of legitimate demands of Muslims” .

MURIC has already filed a Notice of Appeal together with a Motion for Stay of Execution/Injunction pending the appeal of the judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal, Ibadan Judicial Division . “The legal implication is that the International School, University of Ibadan, which we believe is a law-abiding educational institution, cannot lawfully prevent Muslim students from wearing the hijab pending the hearing and determination of the Motion for Stay of Execution/Injunction pending appeal,” MURIC stated . Professor Akintola vowed that the miscarriage of justice would not go unchallenged: “We are heading to the Supreme Court. A Christian legal system has robbed Muslims of their identity and their value system. It must not stand. The battle has just started. Supreme Court here we come” .

Meanwhile, the management of the International School, University of Ibadan has announced that it will commence immediate enforcement of its ban on the wearing of the hijab and headscarf with the school uniform from Monday, July 6, 2026 . In a message sent to parents and guardians, the school stated: “Following the judgment of the Court of Appeal delivered on Friday, July 3, 2026, declaring The International School, University of Ibadan, a private school, all students are required to comply with the rules and regulations of the School. Accordingly, with effect from Monday, July 6, 2026, no student will be allowed to wear a hijab with the school uniform” .

The Chairman of the ISI Muslim Parents Forum, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, described the verdict as shocking and disappointing, but assured that the move to protect the religious rights of Muslim students was far from over . “As Allah decreed, we lost the appeal, but the struggle continues,” Balogun said . “We will take this matter to the highest court in the land. We appeal to all to remain calm in the face of what we consider open oppression” .

Appeal Court Hijab Verdict ‘Travesty of Justice’, MURIC Vows to Fight On

FG Explains Why NYSC Khaki Will Be Replaced With Adire Fabric

The Federal Government has said its decision to replace the iconic National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) khaki uniform with locally produced Adire fabric is part of a broader strategy to boost Nigeria’s textile industry, create jobs, promote indigenous products and ensure government spending benefits the domestic economy.

Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, disclosed this on Thursday during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, where he provided further details on the sweeping reforms recently approved for the NYSC by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

According to the minister, the planned introduction of Adire as the new NYSC uniform is more than a change in appearance. He said it reflects the government’s commitment to supporting local manufacturers and strengthening Nigeria’s textile value chain.

“It is Adire. Adire is being produced in Nigeria. We have it in Ogun, we have it in Kwara, we have textile industries. Let us put our money back into the country,” Olawande said.

He explained that by sourcing uniforms from local producers, the government hopes to stimulate economic growth, encourage investment in the textile sector and create employment opportunities for Nigerians.

Beyond the proposed uniform change, Olawande said the Federal Government is overhauling the NYSC deployment system to ensure corps members are posted based on their academic qualifications, professional skills and career pathways.

Under the proposed framework, graduates with education-related degrees, for example, will be deployed to schools after undergoing relevant orientation and skills assessment in camp, rather than being posted arbitrarily.

“After leaving camp, you are not just posted to a school because NYSC wants you to be in a school. The process you follow during orientation camp will provide a framework for where you will eventually be posted,” he explained.

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The minister also addressed concerns over insecurity in some parts of the country, saying the government is developing a more strategic deployment model that takes security realities into account.

He explained that prospective corps members may increasingly be deployed to states or regions where they studied or are already familiar with the environment, particularly in areas facing security challenges. According to him, the approach is intended to reduce anxiety among parents and corps members while minimising the need for redeployment after mobilisation.

“If you have interest in serving in another region, you can still indicate that. But where security concerns exist, we want to look at those who are already familiar with the environment instead of forcing people to relocate unnecessarily,” he said.

Olawande also dismissed reports suggesting the military would be removed entirely from the NYSC, describing such claims as a misunderstanding of the approved reforms.

He clarified that while the scheme’s operational leadership will transition to a civilian-led structure, the military will continue to play a critical role in orientation activities, drills and the security of corps members nationwide.

“We are not taking the military out of NYSC. That is a misconception. There is no way the military can be removed completely. What we are moving away from is military mobilisation to civilian mobilisation,” the minister said.

The proposed changes form part of the most comprehensive reform of the NYSC since its establishment in 1973. Earlier this week, the Federal Executive Council approved a wide-ranging overhaul of the scheme, including extending the orientation programme from three weeks to six weeks, introducing structured career pathways, expanding entrepreneurship and digital skills training, and placing greater emphasis on employability and national development.

The reforms also provide for risk-based deployment of corps members to states facing security challenges, improved skills acquisition programmes, technology-driven mobilisation processes and a civilian Director-General to oversee the scheme’s administration while retaining military support for security and orientation activities.

The Federal Government has directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to begin amending the NYSC Act and other relevant regulations to enable the implementation of the approved reforms.

The announcement has generated widespread reactions, with many Nigerians welcoming the plan to support local industries, while others argue that the traditional khaki uniform has become a cherished symbol of national unity and should be preserved. The government, however, insists the reforms are designed to reposition the NYSC as a modern, skills-driven institution capable of preparing young Nigerians for employment, entrepreneurship and national service.

FG Explains Why NYSC Khaki Will Be Replaced With Adire Fabric

2027: INEC Unveils Downloadable PVCs, Online Voter Registration

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to introduce downloadable Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for eligible voters who lose or damage their original cards, alongside a fully online voter registration system, as part of major electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed the initiatives on Wednesday while receiving the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, during a courtesy visit to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

According to Amupitan, the reforms are aimed at leveraging technology to make voter registration and participation easier while reducing the risk of eligible Nigerians being disenfranchised.

He explained that the downloadable PVC option will only apply to voters who have previously collected their physical Permanent Voter Cards but later misplaced them, had them defaced, or could no longer read the information on the cards.

“It is not every PVC that is downloadable. You must have gotten your PVC before, and it must be that the PVC is lost or defaced, or if you cannot read your numbers there,” the INEC chairman said.

He clarified that first-time registrants would not be eligible for downloadable PVCs, as they must first complete the standard voter registration process and obtain their original physical cards.

To prevent abuse of the system, Amupitan said affected voters would be required to notify the commission at least 90 days before an election to allow sufficient time for verification and processing.

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He disclosed that INEC plans to pilot the downloadable PVC initiative during the Osun State governorship election scheduled for August before expanding it nationwide for the 2027 general elections.

Beyond the digital voter card initiative, the commission is also finalising a fully online voter registration platform that will allow eligible Nigerians to complete the registration process remotely without visiting INEC offices or registration centres.

“We have also been working on the technology that is going to make it possible for the registration of voters online without even having to visit INEC local government or registration areas. Hopefully, in the next few days, we will begin testing it once the commission approves it,” Amupitan said.

He noted that the innovations are intended to remove barriers to voter registration, improve convenience and encourage greater participation in Nigeria’s democratic process.

The INEC chairman also announced a strategic partnership between the commission and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to intensify voter education and tackle voter apathy, vote-buying, electoral violence and misinformation ahead of the 2027 elections.

According to him, technological innovations alone cannot guarantee credible elections if citizens remain disengaged or lack confidence in the electoral process.

“We can purchase the finest BVAS machines, optimise IReV to international standards and map out logistics. But all of these mean nothing if citizens remain detached, cynical or uneducated about the power of their votes,” he said.

Amupitan described voter apathy as one of the biggest threats to Nigeria’s democracy and called for sustained grassroots voter education to help citizens understand the importance of participating in elections and the role of technology in safeguarding their votes.

He noted that while recent elections, including the FCT Area Council elections and the Ekiti State governorship election, recorded significant improvements in logistics, biometric accreditation and electronic transmission of results, low voter turnout and confusion over polling unit transfers showed that more public enlightenment was needed.

The INEC chairman proposed closer collaboration with the NOA to educate voters in local communities about electoral processes and reassure them that innovations such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) have significantly reduced ballot box snatching and manual manipulation of election results.

Responding, NOA Director-General Lanre Issa-Onilu commended INEC for improving the credibility of elections and reducing public complaints about election outcomes.

He pledged that the agency would launch aggressive nationwide campaigns against vote-buying, electoral violence, misinformation and voter apathy while strengthening civic education to boost voter participation.

Issa-Onilu added that closer cooperation between the NOA and INEC would help bridge the knowledge gap among voters, promote confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system and encourage more citizens to participate in future elections.

The planned introduction of downloadable PVCs, online voter registration, and enhanced voter education campaigns underscores INEC’s commitment to using technology and civic engagement to improve electoral participation and strengthen public trust ahead of the 2027 general elections.

2027: INEC Unveils Downloadable PVCs, Online Voter Registration