MPAC Condemns Appeal Court’s ISI Hijab Verdict, Backs Supreme Court Challenge

The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) has condemned the recent judgment of the Court of Appeal, Ibadan, which overturned an earlier High Court ruling affirming the right of female Muslim students at the International School, University of Ibadan (ISI) to wear the hijab as part of their school uniform.

The group described the majority judgment as a direct assault on the constitutional right to freedom of religion and warned that the decision could set a dangerous precedent for schools across Nigeria.

The Court of Appeal, in a split decision delivered on Friday by a three-member panel, set aside the May 22, 2024, judgment of the Oyo State High Court, which had upheld the rights of 11 Muslim female students to wear the hijab in school.

The appellate court ruled that ISI should be regarded as a private institution because it does not receive government subventions directly. Based on that finding, the court held that the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment in Lagos State Government & Ors v. Asiyat AbdulKareem & Ors, which recognised the right of Muslim students to wear the hijab in public schools, does not automatically extend to ISI.

The court also ruled that the affected students voluntarily accepted the school’s code of conduct at the point of admission and had therefore waived their right to insist on wearing the hijab while attending the institution.

Despite dismissing the students’ principal claims, the Court of Appeal upheld the High Court’s finding that confining the students to the school library for between three and four hours because they wore the hijab amounted to a violation of their fundamental rights. However, the appellate court reduced the damages awarded to each student from ₦1 million to ₦200,000.

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Justice Fadawu Umar, who delivered the dissenting judgment, disagreed with the majority, holding that the appeal lacked merit and that the constitutional rights of the students remained intact.

Reacting to the judgment, MPAC said the ruling was not a neutral resolution of a school dress-code dispute but a significant setback for religious freedom in Nigeria.

In a statement signed by its Executive Chairman, Disu Kamor, the organisation argued that the majority judgment was legally flawed and inconsistent with Section 38 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees every Nigerian the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including the freedom to manifest and practise one’s faith.

According to MPAC, those constitutional protections cannot be determined by whether a school receives government funding.

The organisation maintained that the rights guaranteed under the Constitution belong to every Nigerian regardless of age and should not be lost simply because a student attends a particular school.

MPAC further argued that classifying ISI as a private school solely because it does not receive government subventions amounts to “a bookkeeping test masquerading as constitutional analysis.”

It insisted that ISI remains, in every material respect, an institution established and administered under the authority of the University of Ibadan, a federal government-owned university operating on public land and under public academic supervision.

The group warned that the judgment could create a legal precedent allowing private and faith-based schools to adopt discriminatory dress code policies against Muslim students.

MPAC also faulted what it described as an internal contradiction in the Court of Appeal’s judgment.

According to the organisation, it is difficult to reconcile the court’s conclusion that preventing the students from wearing the hijab did not violate their constitutional rights while simultaneously affirming that confining them to the library for wearing the hijab amounted to a breach of their rights.

It argued that the apparent inconsistency strengthens the case for the matter to be reviewed by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

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The organisation further maintained that the Court of Appeal departed from the Supreme Court’s decision in Lagos State Government & Ors v. Asiyat AbdulKareem & Ors, describing the apex court’s judgment as a landmark affirmation of Muslim female students’ constitutional right to wear the hijab in educational institutions.

According to MPAC, restricting the application of that precedent only to publicly funded schools weakens its constitutional significance and could encourage discriminatory policies in private educational institutions across the country.

The group commended Justice Fadawu Umar for his dissenting judgment, saying he correctly recognised that the appeal lacked merit and that the students’ constitutional rights remained enforceable.

MPAC also threw its weight behind the decision of the ISI Muslim Parents Forum (ISIMPF) and the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) to challenge the Court of Appeal’s decision at the Supreme Court.

It urged the Court of Appeal to expeditiously hear and grant the pending application for a stay of execution to preserve the status quo while the appeal is determined by the apex court.

The organisation appealed to affected students and their parents to remain calm and allow the judicial process to take its course.

Beyond the litigation, MPAC called on the National Assembly to enact legislation affirming that the constitutional right to religious freedom, including the right to wear religious attire, applies equally in both public and private schools.

It also urged the Federal Ministry of Education and state education authorities to introduce regulations preventing schools from implementing dress code policies that discriminate against students on the basis of religion.

The ISI hijab case has continued to generate nationwide debate over the balance between institutional autonomy and the constitutional protection of fundamental rights. With MURIC, ISIMPF, and other stakeholders already indicating plans to approach the Supreme Court, the case is expected to shape future jurisprudence on religious freedom, school policies and students’ rights in Nigeria.

MPAC Condemns Appeal Court’s ISI Hijab Verdict, Backs Supreme Court Challenge

13 Women, 12 Men Arrested as Kebbi Hisbah Cracks Down on Immoral Activities in Hotel

Operation part of ongoing push to enforce Shariah moral codes and curb social vices in northwestern Nigeria

BIRNIN KEBBI, Nigeria – Operatives of the Kebbi State Hisbah Board have arrested 25 youths — comprising 13 women and 12 men — during a targeted raid on a hotel in Argungu, as part of an intensified campaign against alleged immoral activities and social vices in the state.

The raid, which took place on July 3, 2026, was carried out under the authority of the state’s Ministry of Religious Affairs. It forms part of a broader enforcement drive to promote moral values, ensure public decency, and curb conduct deemed contrary to Shariah principles in the northwestern state.

In a statement released to journalists in Birnin Kebbi on Saturday, the Director of Shariah at the Kebbi Hisbah Board, Sirajo Kamba, confirmed the operation and its outcomes.

“On July 3, the Kebbi Hisbah Board carried out a raid at a hotel in Argungu and successfully apprehended 25 suspects allegedly involved in immoral activities,” Kamba said.

“Those arrested include 12 males and 13 females.”

Kamba emphasized that the operation was not only about enforcing religious codes but also about public safety, noting that hotels sometimes serve as hideouts for criminal elements beyond moral infractions.

“The raid in the hotel seeks to ensure the safety of people, as hotels can also serve as a hiding place for criminal elements,” he added.

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The director assured that the board would conduct a comprehensive investigation in line with the law, and that any suspect found culpable would face the appropriate legal process. He pledged that justice would be served after due diligence.

“We will carry out a thorough investigation in line with the law. Anyone found culpable will be subjected to the appropriate legal process,” Kamba stated.

The arrests have reignited public debate over the role and reach of Hisbah agencies in northern Nigeria, where similar operations have been conducted in recent months. In March 2026, the Kano State Hisbah Board carried out comparable raids that led to arrests and fines. In a separate development earlier this month, Kano Hisbah operatives also arrested a man for allegedly attempting to traffic two girls for domestic work abroad.

Kebbi State, like several other states in Nigeria’s northwest, operates a Shariah legal system alongside the secular courts, with the Hisbah board empowered to enforce moral and religious codes. Critics have occasionally raised concerns over due process and individual rights, but board officials insist all actions are taken within the bounds of the law.

As of the time of filing this report, the identities of the arrested individuals have not been released, and it remains unclear whether they have been granted legal representation or bail. The board has not disclosed the exact charges that will be filed, though sources suggest they may include immorality, public nuisance, and violation of Shariah provisions on social conduct.

The Argungu hotel raid marks one of the largest such operations in Kebbi this year, and observers are watching to see whether it signals a more aggressive phase of moral policing ahead of upcoming local events and festivities.

13 Women, 12 Men Arrested as Kebbi Hisbah Cracks Down on Immoral Activities in Hotel

Defamation Case: Court Rejects Saraki’s Objection, Orders Arraignment

A Kwara State High Court in Ilorin has dismissed a preliminary objection filed by former Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki, clearing the way for his arraignment in a criminal defamation case instituted over alleged defamatory statements against Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

Justice M. O. Folorunsho delivered the ruling on Friday after considering arguments presented by both the defence and prosecution, holding that the court has the jurisdiction to hear the matter and that the charge before it discloses offences recognized under the laws of Kwara State.

The ruling marks a significant development in the legal dispute, which stems from allegations that Saraki made defamatory statements against Governor AbdulRazaq through posts published on his verified social media platforms.

During the proceedings, Saraki’s lead counsel, Jimoh Mumini (SAN), represented in court by T. A. Hammed, urged the court to decline jurisdiction, strike out the charge and terminate the criminal proceedings. The defence argued that the High Court lacked the legal authority to entertain the matter and questioned the competence of the charge brought against the former Senate President.

The prosecution team, led by Chief Rafiu Balogun (SAN) and Chief Taye Oniyinde (SAN), opposed the application, insisting that the court was properly constituted to hear the case. According to the prosecution, the charge discloses offences punishable under the Kwara State Penal Code, urging the court to dismiss the preliminary objection and allow the criminal proceedings to continue.

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In his ruling, Justice Folorunsho considered all 17 issues raised by the defence and found no merit in the application. “The preliminary objection lacks merit,” the judge ruled, dismissing every ground advanced by Saraki’s legal team. He further held that the alleged offences are triable before the court, affirming that the High Court possesses the territorial jurisdiction to hear the case. The judge also ruled that the charge sheet and proof of evidence presented by the prosecution disclose a prima facie case sufficient for the proceedings to continue.

During the hearing, the prosecution requested the issuance of a bench warrant against Saraki following his absence in court. However, Justice Folorunsho declined the request, holding that the defendant’s physical presence was not mandatory while the court was determining interlocutory applications. The judge subsequently directed Saraki to appear before the court on July 22, 2026, for his formal arraignment and to enter his plea.

The criminal charge is based on an alleged social media publication made by Saraki on April 17, 2026, in which he reportedly claimed that Governor AbdulRazaq did not possess a Secondary School Certificate—a constitutional qualification required for anyone seeking election as governor. According to the prosecution, the statements were subsequently republished by several national newspapers, giving them wider circulation.

Prosecutors allege that the publication was false, defamatory and capable of damaging the governor’s reputation while also creating tension that could lead to a breach of public peace. The alleged offence is said to be punishable under Section 399 of the Kwara State Penal Code, Cap. P4, Laws of Kwara State, 2006.

Following the ruling, Saraki announced plans to challenge the decision. In a statement issued through his media office, the former Senate President disclosed that he had instructed his legal team to immediately file an appeal against the High Court’s decision on jurisdiction. Saraki maintained that jurisdiction is a fundamental issue that should be conclusively determined before any criminal trial proceeds.

He also expressed confidence in Nigeria’s judicial process and urged his supporters to remain calm while the legal process runs its course.

With the preliminary objection dismissed, attention now shifts to July 22, 2026, when Saraki is expected to appear before the Kwara State High Court for his formal arraignment. At the hearing, he is expected to enter his plea, after which the court will determine the timetable for the substantive hearing of the alleged criminal defamation case.

The proceedings are being closely watched because they involve two of Kwara State’s most prominent political figures and could have wider political and legal implications ahead of future electoral contests.

Defamation Case: Court Rejects Saraki’s Objection, Orders Arraignment