The Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan has ordered all parties to maintain status quo in the legal dispute over the use of hijab by Muslim female students at the International School, University of Ibadan (ISI), and adjourned further hearing on the matter until October 7, 2026.

The order was made on Wednesday by a three-member panel led by Justice K.I. Amadi while hearing an application for an injunction pending appeal and stay of execution filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

The appellate court also cautioned against harassing, intimidating or taking any action against the affected Muslim students pending the determination of the application.

Court documents showed that the case, marked CA/IB/347/2024, was listed among the civil motions scheduled for hearing at the Ibadan Judicial Division of the Court of Appeal.

Counsel to MURIC, Hassan Taiwo Fajimite, urged the court to preserve the subject matter of the appeal by granting an injunction pending appeal and staying the execution of last Friday’s judgment.

He argued that neither the University of Ibadan nor the International School had the legal authority to prevent Muslim female students from wearing the hijab or take disciplinary action against them while the matter remained before the courts.

The judges questioned why steps had been taken against the students when the certified true copy of the judgment had yet to be released.

Following submissions by counsel to both parties, the court directed that the existing situation be maintained pending the hearing of the application on October 7.

The latest development comes days after the Court of Appeal, in a split decision, overturned the earlier judgment of the Oyo State High Court, which had upheld the right of willing Muslim female students to wear the hijab at the school.

In its ruling, the appellate court held that the Supreme Court’s decision affirming the right of Muslim female students to wear the hijab applies to public schools and not to private institutions such as the International School, University of Ibadan.

The judgment drew strong reactions from Muslim groups, with MURIC announcing plans to challenge the decision at the Supreme Court.

On Monday, the first school day after the ruling, Muslim female students who chose to wear the hijab were eventually allowed into the school after security personnel initially attempted to prevent their entry. (Daily Trust)

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