Nigerian Law School responds to claims against hijab-wearing students

The Nigerian Law School has rejected claims that female Muslim candidates wearing hijab faced harassment or were stopped from entering exam halls during the Bar Final Examinations on 31 October.

A statement on its Facebook page on Wednesday from Aderonke Osho, the Secretary to the Council and Director of Administration, called these claims false. The school stressed that it does not have any policy or practice that discriminates based on religion.

“The school categorically states that it has no policy or institutional practice of religious discrimination,” the statement said.

The institution explained that its exam rules are in place to ensure clear identification, prevent cheating, and maintain the exams' integrity.

It noted that a female student wearing a hijab was stopped during the Bar Part I exams on 29 October. She was found with an earpiece hidden in her hijab and a mobile phone strapped to her thigh.

The school said it is still looking into this incident according to its exam rules and relevant regulations.

It added that security measures for the exams were applied fairly, without discrimination. It also referenced Sections 38 and 42 of the Nigerian constitution, which protect freedom of religion and prohibit discrimination.

This situation comes after a 2022 Supreme Court ruling that upheld the right of female Muslim students in Lagos State public schools to wear hijab with their school uniforms.

In the case involving the Lagos State Government and Asiyat AbdulKareem and others, the Supreme Court supported the students’ right to express their religious beliefs.

While this ruling focused on public schools and not the Nigerian Law School, it remains relevant in talks about religious freedom in education.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) also spoke out against what they called restrictions on hijab-wearing candidates during the recent Bar exams.

The group argued that students should not face collective punishment because of one student's alleged misconduct.

The law school asked the public to refrain from jumping to conclusions and let its investigation uncover the truth.

For law graduates, passing a one-year education and the Bar exams held by the Nigerian Law School is necessary to be called to the Nigerian Bar.

The school is overseen by the Council of Legal Education.

Successful candidates are called to the Bar by the Body of Benchers, which is the highest authority in the Nigerian legal profession.