NIGERIA: MURIC Demands Suspension of Law School Exams Over Hijab Controversy

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called for the suspension of examinations across Nigerian Law School campuses following allegations that female Muslim students wearing hijab were harassed, intimidated and denied access to examination halls.

The organisation also demanded an investigation into the incidents, which allegedly occurred during the final examinations for candidates seeking admission to the Nigerian Bar on Saturday, October 31, 2026.

MURIC warned that it would mobilise parents, Muslim youths and other stakeholders to stage peaceful protests across Law School campuses nationwide if its demands were not addressed.

The call was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the organisation’s Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

According to Akintola, several female candidates wearing hijab were allegedly prevented from entering examination halls at different centres across the country because of their religious attire.

He claimed that some of the affected candidates were forced to remain outside examination halls for about an hour before they were allowed to enter after removing their hijabs.

“There was harassment and intimidation of hijab-wearing female Muslim students in some Law School examination halls across the country yesterday, Saturday, October 31, 2026,” Akintola said.

He added that the organisation received numerous telephone calls, text messages and online complaints from affected candidates, their parents and concerned Muslims during the examinations.

Akintola described the alleged treatment of the candidates as a violation of their fundamental rights and condemned what he called an unjustifiable disruption of their educational and professional pursuits.

MURIC expressed particular concern over the allegations, noting that the Nigerian Law School, as an institution responsible for legal education, should uphold the rule of law and respect court decisions.

The organisation cited Section 38(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including the right to manifest religious beliefs.

It also referenced the Supreme Court's 2022 judgment in Lagos State Government & Ors v. Asiyat Abdulkareem, which it said affirmed the right of Muslim female students to wear hijab in public schools.

Furthermore, MURIC argued that the alleged actions violated Section 42 of the Constitution, which prohibits discrimination, as well as Section 34(1)(a), which guarantees the dignity of the human person and protects against inhuman or degrading treatment.

Akintola described the alleged forceful removal of hijabs at examination centres as an affront to the dignity and religious rights of the affected candidates.

The organisation therefore demanded an immediate investigation into the incidents and called for measures to prevent a recurrence.

The Nigerian Law School had yet to respond to the allegations at the time of filing this report.