Court of Appeal to Deliver Judgment Friday in UI-ISI Hijab Case

Court of Appeal to Deliver Judgment Friday in UI-ISI Hijab Case

The Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division, will on Friday, July 3, 2026, deliver judgment in the long-running legal dispute over the use of the hijab by Muslim female students of the International School, University of Ibadan (ISI), bringing to a climax a case that has generated widespread public interest and debate over religious rights in Nigeria’s education sector.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday by the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Oyo State Chapter, which said all parties to the appeal had been officially notified by the appellate court that judgment would be delivered at 9:00 a.m.

According to the Islamic rights advocacy group, the appeal centres on whether willing Muslim female students of the International School, University of Ibadan, can wear the hijab in school in line with their constitutional right to freedom of religion.

MURIC described the case as one with significant constitutional implications, noting that it touches on the rights of Muslim students to practise their faith freely, including the use of the hijab, as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

The organisation commended Muslim parents, members of the Muslim community, legal practitioners and supporters who, it said, had remained patient and law-abiding throughout the years of litigation.

It also called on Muslim faithful, parents of the affected students and other interested members of the public to attend Friday’s court sitting in Ibadan to witness the delivery of what it described as a historic judgment.

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While urging supporters to remain peaceful regardless of the outcome, MURIC stressed the need for respect for the rule of law and judicial processes.

“We respectfully call on all concerned Muslim parents, members of the Ummah and lovers of justice to be present at the Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division, on Friday by 9:00 a.m. to witness the delivery of this historic judgment,” the statement said.

The group further appealed to those attending the proceedings to conduct themselves with decorum and avoid any actions capable of undermining public peace.

Reaffirming its commitment to the protection of religious freedoms, MURIC said it would continue to pursue the rights of Nigerian Muslims through lawful and constitutional means.

The dispute over the use of the hijab at the International School, University of Ibadan, dates back several years after some Muslim students and their parents challenged the school’s policy restricting the wearing of hijabs by female students.

The disagreement eventually resulted in legal proceedings, with the parties seeking judicial interpretation of the constitutional provisions on freedom of religion and the powers of educational institutions to regulate school dress codes.

The case has remained one of the country’s most closely watched legal battles involving the intersection of education, religious freedom and constitutional rights, with the Court of Appeal’s decision expected to clarify the legal position on the use of religious attire in public educational institutions.

The judgment is also expected to have implications beyond the University of Ibadan’s International School, as it could influence future policies and legal disputes involving religious expression in schools across Nigeria.

If the Court of Appeal delivers its judgment on Friday, I can also help produce a fast-breaking news report and a detailed follow-up analysis suitable for print and online publication.

Court of Appeal to Deliver Judgment Friday in UI-ISI Hijab Case