The Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan has directed all parties involved in the legal dispute over the use of hijab by female Muslim students at the University of Ibadan (UI) International School (ISI) to maintain the status quo pending the hearing of an application for a stay of execution.
The directive follows the appellate court’s July 3 judgment, delivered by a split decision of two to one, which overturned an earlier ruling of the Oyo State High Court that had upheld the right of Muslim female students to wear the hijab in the school.
Following the judgment, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) approached the Court of Appeal with an application seeking a stay of execution while it prepares to challenge the ruling at the Supreme Court.
During proceedings on the application, the three-member panel of justices, led by Justice Kenneth Amadi alongside Justices Fadawu Umar and Binta Suberu, ordered all parties—including the University of Ibadan, International School Ibadan, and MURIC—to refrain from taking any action that could alter the existing situation until the application is heard.
Justice Amadi stressed that once an application for a stay of execution has been filed, none of the parties has the authority to enforce or act on the judgment until the court decides on the application.
He also expressed concern over allegations that the school had begun harassing students over the use of hijab, questioning the urgency of such actions while the legal process remained ongoing.
According to him, the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment had not yet been released, noting that the statutory seven-day period for issuing the document was still in effect.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter until October 7, when it will hear and determine MURIC’s application for a stay of execution.
Earlier, counsel to MURIC, Mr. Yusuf Anikulapo, represented by Mr. Hassan Fajimite, informed the court that the organisation had filed the application but intended to substitute it with a revised version because the original application was not yet ripe for hearing.
He urged the court to preserve the status quo and grant an adjournment to allow the fresh application to be properly filed.
Counsel representing the University of Ibadan and the International School Ibadan, Mr. Damilola Akinsanya, did not object to the request for an adjournment.
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