A Niqabi, Maryam Abioye Afeez has dragged the authorities of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) to the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, demanding N50 million as compensation for breach of her fundamental human right.
Ms Afeez has alleged in an article which has gone viral on social media that security personnel forced her to remove her Niqab before she could gain access into the institution where she had gone for an official engagement.
Counsel to the victim, Ahmed Adetola-Kazeem posted copies of the suit on his Facebook page on Tuesday, January 18.
A #Niqabi, Maryam Afeez has dragged Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, FUNAAB to the Federal High Court, demanding N50 million as compensation for breach of fundamental human right. She was forced to remove her #niqab by security before she could enter her alma mater. pic.twitter.com/HKJ2val0Pd
— Muslim News Nigeria (@muslimnews_NG) January 19, 2022
He wrote: By Allah’s mercy we filed a Fundamental Rights enforcement suit against the authorities of FUNAAB at the Federal High Court Abeokuta today (Tuesday) on the viral Niqab case involving Sister Maryam Azeez who was forced to remove her Niqab before she could enter the University gate.
“May Allah grant us success, ease our affairs and purify out intentions,” he added.
Since the unfortunate incident which happened in November 25, 2021, Muslim News findings revealed that there have been incessant molestations and assaults on Muslim students who are using the niqab.
The school, in an internal memo insisted that there is no going back on the ban on niqab for Muslim students, citing security threats.
By this declaration, FUNAAB becomes the first federal-owned institution to ban niqab, the divine and constitutional right of any willing Muslim women.
But the Muslim Students of Nigeria, FUNAAB chapter and other relevant religious body such as MURIC, HRAI, have rejected the ban, describing it illegal, violation of fundamental human rights of Muslim women.