MURIC urges calm as court fixes April 29 for hearing of UI–ISI hijab appeal

Michael Olumide

Oyo State Chapter of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has briefed the Muslim community and the general public on the latest development in the ongoing appeal concerning the University of Ibadan–International School Ibadan (UI–ISI) hijab case currently before the Court of Appeal.

According to the General Secretary of MURIC, Oyo State Chapter, Mallam Ibrahim Agunbiade, during the court sitting held on Friday, March 6, 2026, the appellants — the University of Ibadan (UI), International School Ibadan (ISI) and three others, moved an application dated and filed on November 11, 2024, seeking an enlargement of time within which to compile and transmit the Record of Appeal.

The appellants also urged the court to deem the already compiled record as properly compiled and transmitted.

The application was formally moved before the Honourable Court and, after considering the submissions of the parties, the Court granted the request as prayed.

Following the ruling, the Court issued directives on the filing of briefs for the appeal. The appellants were ordered to file their Brief of Argument within seven days, while the respondents are to file their Brief within fourteen days after being served with the appellants’ brief.

The Court further directed that the appellants’ Reply Brief, if any, must be filed within seven days after service of the respondents’ brief.

After issuing the orders, the Court adjourned the matter to April 29, 2026, for the hearing of the appeal.

It was also observed during the proceedings that eleven other related appeals connected to the hijab dispute had earlier been adjourned to the same date, indicating that all the matters are expected to be heard together.

The legal team representing MURIC in the case is led by Barrister Yusuf Anikulapo, who was present in court during the proceedings.

Reacting to the development, the Oyo State Chapter of MURIC reiterated its commitment to pursuing justice and protecting the fundamental rights of Muslim students to freely practise their religion, including the right to wear the hijab in schools.

The organisation also called on members of the Muslim community and other stakeholders to remain calm, prayerful and supportive as the legal process continues.