In a spilt decision that pitched five justices against two, the Supreme Court of Nigeria has ruled that Muslim students can wear hijab in Lagos State and by extension in all Nigerian secondary schools.
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 Kudirat 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.
The court dismissed an appeal by the Lagos State Government and upheld the earlier judgement of the Court of Appeal which held that the ban on hijab was discriminatory against Muslim students in the state.
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.
