The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condemned the alleged harassment and exclusion of female Muslim students wearing hijab from Law School examination halls, demanding an investigation and suspension of ongoing examinations pending the outcome of the probe.
The Islamic human rights organisation also threatened peaceful protests across all Law School campuses if its demands are not met.
MURIC’s Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, made the demands in a press statement issued on Sunday, November 1, 2026, following reports that hijab-wearing candidates were prevented from entering examination halls during the Call to Bar final examinations on Saturday.
According to Akintola, some candidates were allegedly forced to remain outside examination halls for about an hour and were only allowed to enter after removing their hijabs.
He said the incidents triggered widespread distress among affected candidates, their parents and concerned Muslims, who contacted the organisation through telephone calls, text messages and online platforms.
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MURIC described the alleged treatment as a violation of the constitutional rights of the affected students, citing Sections 38, 42 and 34 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantee freedom of religion, protection against discrimination and the dignity of the human person.
The organisation also referenced the Supreme Court judgment in Lagos State Government & Ors v. Asiyat Abdulkareem (2022), which affirmed the right of Muslim female students to wear hijab in schools.
It accused the Law School of disregarding constitutional provisions and judicial pronouncements by allegedly restricting candidates from wearing hijab during examinations.
MURIC called for the suspension of all Law School examinations pending an investigation into what it described as harassment, profiling, stigmatisation and the forced removal of hijabs at examination centres.
It also demanded that affected candidates who request another opportunity to sit the examination be allowed to do so, particularly those allegedly delayed outside examination halls for up to 15 minutes or longer.
The organisation said it would mobilise parents of affected candidates, Muslim youths and other stakeholders for peaceful protests across Law School campuses if the demands were not addressed.
Akintola urged Muslim parents to identify with the planned protests, accusing some Muslim elders of failing to defend the rights of their children.
He also called on Muslim youths and Islamic organisations to organise peaceful campaigns for the protection of religious freedoms and other civil liberties.
However, MURIC stressed that any protest would be conducted peacefully, reaffirming its motto: “Dialogue, No Violence.”
