ABUJA – The Supreme Court, on Friday, voided the ban by the Lagos State government on the use of Hijab by female Muslim students in its public primary and secondary schools.
The decision was made by a 7-man panel of Justices of the apex court, in a split decision of five to two.
By the judgement, the panel has affirmed the earlier decision of the Court of Appeal Lagos, which had set aside a judgement of the High Court that restricted female students from wearing Hijab with their school uniforms.
In a lead majority verdict that was prepared by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun but read by Justice Tijani Abubakar, the Supreme Court dismissed as lacking in merit, the appeal by the Lagos State government against the appellate court’s decision.
The Supreme Court said it found no reason to reinstate the October 17, 2014 judgement by Justice Grace Onyeabo of the High Court of Lagos State, which upheld the ban on Hijab.
The court gave the judgment in an appeal – Lagos State Govt. and Ors V. Asiyat AbdulKareem with suit number SC/910/16.
In an-80 page lead judgment, Justice Kekere-Ekun held that the ban on hijab was discriminatory against Muslim students in Lagos State.
Four other justices of the court agreed with the lead judgment. However, two justices dissented.
Other Justices on the panel were Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, Justice John Inyang Okoro, Justice Uwani Aji, Justice Mohammed Garba, Justice Tijjani Abubakar, and Justice Emmanuel Agim.
