Appeal Court Verdict: UI International School to Enforce Hijab Ban from Monday

Appeal Court Verdict: UI International School to Enforce Hijab Ban from Monday

The International School, University of Ibadan (ISI) has announced that it will begin enforcing its dress code by prohibiting the use of hijab and headscarves with the school uniform from Monday, July 6, 2026, following a landmark judgment by the Court of Appeal declaring the institution a private school.

The school communicated the decision to parents and guardians through an official notice shared on its WhatsApp platform shortly after the appellate court delivered its judgment on Friday.

According to the notice, all students are expected to comply with the school’s regulations in line with the Court of Appeal’s ruling.

“Following the judgment of the Court of Appeal delivered on Friday, 3 July 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, 6 July 2026, no student will be allowed to wear a hijab with the school uniform.

“Parents and guardians are kindly requested to ensure that their children comply with this directive. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.”

The directive follows a split 2-1 judgment of the Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division, which overturned an earlier judgment of the Oyo State High Court that had permitted Muslim female students to wear hijab as part of the school’s uniform.

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In the lead judgment, Justice Biobele Abraham Georgewill, supported by Justice K.I. Amadi, held that the International School, University of Ibadan operates as a private educational institution and is therefore entitled to enforce its internal rules, including its uniform policy.

The appellate court distinguished the case from previous Supreme Court decisions that allowed the use of hijab in public schools, ruling that those decisions do not automatically apply to privately run institutions.

According to the court, while the 1999 Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of religion, students and parents who voluntarily enrol in a private school are deemed to have accepted the institution’s regulations, including its dress code.

The court further held that students admitted into ISI had signed undertakings agreeing to comply with the school’s rules and could not selectively disregard those conditions after admission.

Justice Georgewill noted that although religious freedom is constitutionally protected, it is not absolute in the context of contractual relationships voluntarily entered into with private institutions.

However, Justice Fadawu Umar, who dissented from the majority judgment, maintained that the appeal lacked merit and should have been dismissed, effectively supporting the earlier High Court ruling that recognised the Muslim students’ right to wear hijab.

The legal battle dates back to 2018, when 11 Muslim female students, supported by the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) and other stakeholders, challenged the school’s prohibition of hijab, arguing that the policy violated their constitutional rights to freedom of religion and protection from discrimination.

In May 2024, the Oyo State High Court ruled in favour of the students and declared that they could wear hijab with their school uniforms.

Dissatisfied with the judgment, the International School, University of Ibadan appealed the decision, arguing that the institution is privately managed and possesses the legal authority to establish and enforce its own rules regarding student appearance and conduct.

The Court of Appeal has now set aside that earlier judgment, effectively restoring the school’s authority to implement its uniform policy.

The ruling has generated widespread reactions among religious organisations, legal practitioners, education stakeholders and civil society groups, with many describing it as a significant decision on the relationship between religious freedom and the autonomy of private schools in Nigeria.

While supporters of the judgment argue that private institutions should retain the right to regulate their operations without external interference, others contend that constitutional rights should not be limited by school policies.

The decision is not necessarily the final chapter in the dispute, as parties dissatisfied with the appellate court’s verdict retain the constitutional right to approach the Supreme Court for a final determination on the issues raised in the case.

For now, however, the management of the International School, University of Ibadan says all students must comply with the school’s dress code beginning on Monday, in accordance with the appellate court’s ruling.

Appeal Court Verdict: UI International School to Enforce Hijab Ban from Monday