Court of Appeal Orders Status Quo on Hijab in UI

On Wednesday, the Court of Appeal in Ibadan, Oyo State, ordered the University of Ibadan to maintain the status quo concerning the hijab issue for female Muslim students. This legal dispute began in 2018 when Muslim students were prevented from wearing hijabs, leading Alhaji Abdulrahman Balogun to take the matter to court.

The Oyo State High Court ruled in 2024 affirming the right of Muslim students to wear hijabs. However, the Court of Appeal, in a split decision on Friday, overturned this earlier judgment.

The appeal court urged all parties involved to maintain the status quo during the ongoing legal battle. The court has adjourned further hearings until October 7, 2026, and a three-man panel led by Justice K.

Amadi cautioned the school against harassing or intimidating students regarding the hijab issue pending the determination of the case.