The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has demanded the suspension of examinations at all Nigerian Law School campuses, citing alleged harassment and intimidation of female Muslim students wearing hijab. According to MURIC's Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, several hijab-wearing female candidates were prevented from entering examination halls in different parts of the country because of their religious attire during the final examinations for candidates seeking admission to the Nigerian Bar on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
Akintola stated that some candidates were made to stand outside examination halls for about an hour and were only allowed to enter after removing their hijabs. He said MURIC received numerous telephone calls, text messages, and online messages from distressed candidates, their parents, and concerned Muslims during the incidents. The organisation strongly condemned what it considered an unjustifiable disruption of the educational and professional pursuits of the candidates.
MURIC has also demanded an investigation into the incidents and warned that it would mobilise parents, Muslim youths, and other stakeholders for peaceful protests across Law School campuses nationwide if its demands were not met. The organisation described the alleged incidents as an infringement on the candidates' rights and cited Section 38(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.
The Supreme Court's 2022 decision in Lagos State Government & Ors v. Asiyat Abdulkareem was also referenced, which affirmed that banning or restricting the hijab amounted to discrimination. MURIC further argued that the alleged treatment of the candidates violated Section 42 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom from discrimination. Akintola also cited Section 34(1)(a), which protects the dignity of the human person and prohibits torture and inhuman or degrading treatment.
The organisation expressed concern that the Law School, a bastion of law education and a centre of legal excellence, was involved in the denigration of court pronouncements. Akintola stated that the forceful undressing of the candidates at Law School examination centres in Nigeria was an open contravention of Section 34(a), which upholds the dignity of the human person.
The Nigerian Law School had not responded to the allegations in the statement at the time of writing. MURIC's position was contained in a press statement issued on Sunday by Akintola. The organisation received numerous complaints from distressed candidates, their parents, and concerned Muslims during the incidents.
The incident has sparked a heated debate about the rights of Muslim students to wear hijab in educational institutions. MURIC's demands have highlighted the need for a more inclusive and tolerant environment in Nigerian educational institutions.
Key points
- MURIC demands suspension of Law School exams over alleged hijab ban
- Organisation cites constitutional rights, Supreme Court decision in support of hijab-wearing students
- Nigerian Law School has not responded to allegations at the time of writing
