ISI Hijab crisis: Parties agree on out of court settlement, as court adjourns till March 22

Parties in the matter filed by 14 students of the International School, Ibadan (ISI) on behalf of the ISO Muslim Parents Forum, to contest restriction of the use of hijab on school uniform within the school premises on Wednesday agreed to explore out of court settlement in the resolution of the matter.

The 14 pupils (all minors) filed the suit against the University of Ibadan, ISI, Mrs Phebean Olowe, the ISI principal and Professor Abideen Adeyinka Aderinto, the chairman board of governors of the ISI to ask for court orders for the enforcement of their fundamental rights to freedom of thought, conscience and religion and freedom from discrimination, right to dignity of human persons and right to education.

At the last hearing on the matter, the court had agreed that other parties which include traditional worshippers and other interested students and Alumni association to join the suit as interested parties after the claimants raised no objection to their application.

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At the resumed hearing of the matter before Justice Ladiran Akintola of the State High Court sitting at Ringroad on Ibadan, counsel to the claimants, Abdulwahab Egbewole, told the court that parties in the case had begun the process to settle the case amicably.

While corroborating what Egbewole said, counsel to the school, principal and the school’s board chairman, Oluwatobi Ola, stated that steps were being taken to ensure that the case would be settled out of court. Other counsels in the suit also confirmed the development.

Justice Akintola granted the request of secular parents in the school by allowing the application filed by their counsel, Tade Ipadeola, seeking to be joined as respondents to scale through.

Reacting to the development, Justice Akintola, held that with the calibre of lawyers involved in the matter, the parties should be able to settle the case amicably amongst themselves and bring settlement report to the court on the next adjourned date.

He subsequently adjourned the matter till March 22, 2019, for mention.