MPAC Hails Supreme Court Verdict Affirming Muslim Students’ Right to Worship at RSU

MPAC Hails Supreme Court Verdict Affirming Muslim Students’ Right to Worship at RSU

Lagos, February 12, 2026 — The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC), Nigeria, has welcomed the Supreme Court judgment affirming the constitutional right of Muslim students at Rivers State University (RSU) to worship freely on campus, describing the ruling as a landmark victory for justice and religious freedom.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, MPAC said the apex court’s decision, which dismissed RSU’s appeal, goes beyond a legal triumph for the affected students and represents “a victory for the Constitution, conscience, and justice.”

“For over a decade, Muslim students at Rivers State University were denied a right that should never have been contested — the right to pray,” the organisation said. “Rather than resort to disorder, the students chose the path of law, patience, and principled resistance.”

MPAC commended the students for pursuing redress through constitutional means and praised the judiciary at all levels for upholding fundamental rights guaranteed under Nigerian law. The group said the judgment sends a clear message that no institution or authority can override citizens’ constitutional freedoms.

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The organisation called on RSU authorities to comply fully and immediately with the Supreme Court ruling. It warned that any delay or refusal to implement the judgment would amount to contempt for the rule of law and an affront to constitutional order.

MPAC further urged the university to end what it described as “persecution, exclusion, and hostility” toward Muslim students, attributing such actions to institutional bias and Islamophobic attitudes.

“A university must be a sanctuary of knowledge, not a theatre of discrimination,” the statement read.

Beyond Rivers State, MPAC said the ruling carries wider implications for Muslim minority communities in the South-East and South-South regions, where it claimed some students and workers continue to face restrictions on their religious practices. The group expressed hope that the judgment would usher in a new era of respect for religious rights across the country.

“Religious freedom is not a concession or a favour. It is a constitutional right,” MPAC stated, adding that Nigeria cannot build unity or democracy while permitting discrimination based on faith.

The statement was signed by Disu Kamor, Executive Chairman of MPAC, who reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to defending constitutional values and protecting the dignity of all Nigerians regardless of religion.

MPAC Hails Supreme Court Verdict Affirming Muslim Students’ Right to Worship at RSU