Categories: Education

Updated: Hijab: Lagos withdraws Eletu-Odibo Junior High School principal, investigates case

Lagos State Government has recalled the principal of Eletu-Odibo Junior High School, Abule-Oja, Yaba, Mrs Christiana Sofuye, for allegedly disobeying the Supreme Court judgement on hijab.

The principal was reported to have compelled a female Muslim student to remove her hijab in the school, in disobedience to the widely shared circular issued by the state government, urging compliance with the apex court judgement.

The state government has also restated its warning to principals and other personnel of various public schools in the state to desist from assaulting students because of the hijab.

This was contained in a circular issued by Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary Education District IV, Osinaike Olusegun Olawale, stressing that anyone found violating the Supreme Court judgement on hijab in schools would you face dire consequences.

The Supreme Court had ruled in favour of the hijab, upholding the constitutional rights of Muslim students to wear it in schools.

The Tutor-General said the Lagos State government strictly frowned on disobedience against the Supreme Court judgement.

He said other officers involved in the violation at the school had also been recalled alongside the principal.

The statement read, “Consequent upon the Supreme Court judgement on the use of hijab in Lagos State shools delivered on 17th June, 2022 and the Head of Service circular No. 068, dated 5th December, 2022 which was made available to all principals through the Information Platform *(E34 Notice formation)*, available information at our disposal alleged that the principal of Eletu-Odibo Junior High School, Abule-Oja, Yaba, decided to violate the judgement of the apex court and the H.O.S Circular, which is tantamount to misconduct and punishable under the Lagos State Public Service Rule (PSR).

“However, the principal and other officers involved have been recalled from the school with immediate effect, while investigation is ongoing.

“For the avoidance of doubt, henceforth, any principal or staff member caught assaulting students on the issue of hijab or in one way or the other contravenes the hijab judgement will face dire consequences.

“It should be of note that the Lagos State Government strictly frowns on disobedience and will be viewed seriously.”

Background

On Tuesday 13th December, 2022, Mujeebah AbdulQadri, a JSS 2 student of Eletu Odibo Junior High School, Abule Oja, Yaba, wore her hijab to school in conformity with the Supreme Court judgement and the circular of the Head of service. As soon as she entered the school premises, Mrs Oshinjowon, the Business Studies teacher, asked her to remove her hijab or return home with her mother who accompanied her to school that morning, despite the fact that exams were ongoing.

Mrs. Abdulqadir insisted that she wanted to see the principal, but she was informed by Mr. Babafemi, the Vice Principal that the principal was not around and that he could not attend to her on the matter. She went further to see Mrs. Akintola another Vice Principal who also informed her that the principal was not around and that she could not also attend to her on the Hijab issue.

Mrs. Abdulqadir waited for several hours to see the principal and had to leave when she was continuously told the principal was not around. She later found out that the principal was available all along, but because she did not recognize her ( as she was a new principal), Mrs Abdulqadir was constantly lied to that the principal was not available and the said student was not allowed to put on the Hijab.

On Thursday 15th of December, while assembly was on going, the principal Mrs. Christiana Sofuye, signaled the said student to remove her hijab, when she failed to do so she called on a male student F.A , to assault Mujeebah by forcefully removing the Hijab from her head on the assembly ground, which he did successfully.

The hijab matter in Lagos state has gone on more than 12 years, with the Muslim community being peaceful and using legal means to exert their Rights. Despite the Supreme Court Judgement and the Head of Service Circular six months after, Muslim girls are still being assaulted and harassed for exercising their God given Rights are Guaranteed under the 1999 constitution as amended.

We call on the Lagos State Government, particularly the Head of service and the Commissioner of Education to call all those concerned to order and met out befitting consequences for this act. Lagos has been a state of peace and religious tolerance, Let us work together to keep it that way. The Muslim community is watching and waiting!

Trends Admin