Ayofe Abdullah
In a landmark judgment delivered on 20 July 2026, the High Court of Justice, Iyaganku, Ibadan, presided over by Hon. Justice Y. S. Adekunle, affirmed the constitutional right of eligible Muslim female students to wear the hijab in government-owned public schools across Oyo State, including schools originally established by Christian missionary bodies but now owned by the government.
The ruling aligns with previous judicial decisions in Osun State, reaffirming that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria remains the supreme law of the land. The Court held that no policy, tradition, school regulation, or administrative directive can override the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
By upholding the right of Muslim schoolgirls to manifest their religious beliefs through the wearing of the hijab, the Court has further strengthened the principles of religious freedom, equality before the law, justice, and the rule of law, which are essential pillars of Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.
The judgment is widely regarded as a significant affirmation of the constitutional protection of freedom of religion and the rights of students in public educational institutions.