Supreme Court rules on use of hijab in Nigeria schools

*SUPREME COURT AFFIRMS USE OF HIJAB IN NIGERIA SCHOOLS* 

Village square reports 

The supreme court on February 17th affirmed the usage of the Muslim scarf ( hijab) by students in both public primary and secondary schools in Lagos. 

In his ruling, the apex court dismissed an appeal filed by the lagos state government and affirmed the judgement of the court of appeal which held that the ban on hijab was discriminatory against Muslim students.

It also held that the ban violated the Muslim students right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion, the dignity of human persons and freedom from discrimination guaranteed by the 1999 constitution .

The justices on the panel were : justice Olukayode Ariwoola, justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, justice Uwani Aji, justice John Iyang Okoro, justice Muhammed Garba, justice Muhammed Garba, Justice Tijani Abubakar and justice Emmanuel Agim.

This was the final decision in the legal battle of five years in use of hijab in public schools by the Lagos state government and two students Asiyat AbdulKareem and Mariam Oyeniyi as well as the Muslim Student Society of Nigeria ( MSSN) which the appeal court had ealier upheld the right of the Muslims students to wear it but Lagos state government went on appeal to supreme court .

The decision by the Apex court makes the use of the hijab legal in all the schools in the territory of Nigeria.