COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE STAKEHOLDERS SUMMIT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SUPREME COURT JUDGMENT ON HIJAB IN LAGOS STATE HELD ON 1ST SEPTEMBER 2022 AT THE OLANIKE HALL OF THE SHAMSI ADISA THOMAS MOSQUE, IKEJA LAGOS STATE.
INTRODUCTION
The Muslim Lawyers’ Association of Nigeria (MULAN) Lagos Branch conveyed a meeting of Muslim stakeholders in Lagos State on the 1st September 2022. The Association was compelled to call for the summit after receiving reports of several incidents of outright disobedience of the judgment of Supreme Court delivered on 17th day of June 2022 in Appeal No: SC/ 910 / 2016; between the Lagos State Government & Ors (Appellants) v. Miss Asiyat Abdulkareem & Ors (Respondents).
The judgment was sequel to the Appeal filed by the Lagos State Government against the earlier judgment of the Court of Appeal in Appeal No: CA/L/135/2015 at the Court of Appeal, which Judgment upturned the earlier Judgment of the High Court of Lagos in Suit No; ID/151M/13 between the same parties.
In attendance at the Summit were representatives of all Muslim organisations in Lagos State, notable speakers were Sina Sofola SAN, Professor F.A.R Adeleke, Prof Lakin Akintola of MURIC, Mr. Hassan Taiwo Fajimite and Mrs. Mutiat Orolu-Balogun of Hijab Rights Advocacy Initiative.
In the course of it’s proceedings the Summit demonstrated the sample of the Hijab exhibited in the case and called for uniformity in the style of the Hijab which is a navel length Hijab as held in the Judgment.
This is the type of hijab proposed for Muslim students as held in the judgment of the Nigeria's Supreme Court as against the shoulder-length hijab. Also, the #hijab must be the colour of the school uniforms. If the school uniform is blue, the hijab must be blue, not red or black pic.twitter.com/8qArlcg1wP
— Muslim News Nigeria (@muslimnews_NG) September 3, 2022
At the end of it’s deliberations it was resolved as follows:
1. The Summit condemned and frowned at the unfortunate fact that despite the clear and unambiguous judgment of the Supreme Court (the Apex Court) some unscrupulous and lawless persons are bent at continuing the abuse of the innocent Muslim girls and discriminating against them only because they have chosen to exercise their Fundamental Rights by adorning their hijab while on school uniforms.
2. The Summit viewed these untoward acts described above as not only lawless but also contemptuous of the highest Judicial Authority in the land which the Apex Supreme Court represents.
3. While condemning the distasteful disobedience of the rule of law as exemplified by the acts of those categories of persons described aforesaid the Summit calls on the Government of Lagos State to do the needful and ensure that its Agencies and Officers concerned comply with the judgment of the Apex court. The Summit has no doubt that the present Administration in Lagos State is a Law abiding one.
4. The Summit further notes that it is apparent that some persons for whatever reasons are bent on provoking the Muslim Ummah in Lagos State with their continuous intimidation of Muslim girls using their Hijab and calls on the Government of Lagos State to forthwith take punitive measures against those lawless and disgruntled elements who seem hell bent to tarnish the good image and reputation of the Lagos State Government.
5. The Summit also notes with great concern that despite the judgment of the Supreme Court, Some Officers of the Government of Lagos state have been hiding under the untenable excuse that there is no Official Circular from the State Government giving directives on the use of the hijab on school uniform.
6. As a result of the above it is the position at the Summit that the Lagos State Government can be held complicit on this in view of the obvious fact that despite several calls by MULAN and other concerned Muslim bodies and persons on the Government of Lagos State to issue a Circular to that effect to deter its overzealous officers from continuing with theirs contemptuous acts the Government has turned deaf ears to the several calls till date thus emboldened its lawless officers to continue their unlawful acts unabated.
Flowing from the foregoing the Summit thereby further resolved and call on Lagos State Government to address the following to wit;
1. Come out openly and boldly in making a categorical statement acknowledging the judgment of the Supreme Court and demonstrate that Lagos State is for all, and a respecter of the Rule of law.
2. Direct the authorities of the various primaries and secondary schools owned and managed by the State Government to allow without any inhibition whatsoever, all female Muslim students who desire to do so, to wear their hijab over their school uniforms.
3. Ensure that no female Muslim student who has been wearing hijab in the past and/ or those who just desires to wear the Hijab over her school uniform in and out of school, whether during or outside school hours is victimised, oppressed and or subjected to any form of intimidation and / or discrimination whatsoever.
4. Ensure that any teacher who violates the Judgment of the court is promptly disciplined by the appropriate authority of the State to avoid any embarrassment that may be caused to the Government functionaries who may be cited for contempt of Court for failing to comply or ensure compliance with the Orders of the highest Court in Nigeria
5. Set up (if it is yet to do so) a committee to immediately look into the School dress code in Lagos State, and fashion out a model that will be non-discriminatory and will recognise in particular the rights of Muslim girls in public Primary and Secondary Schools in Lagos State which shall be in tandem with the minimum that has been exhibited in the case leading to the Supreme Court judgment.
The Summit in conclusion expressed the commitment that the Muslim Community in Lagos State will remain ever ready to engage constructively, the representatives of the State government in fashioning out the modality on the implementation of the judgment before the resumption of the Schools for new academic session as henceforth it will no longer tolerate the abuse and discrimination of Muslim female students as was the case before the schools went on Vacation.
The Summit remains committed to the peaceful and harmonious co-existence in Lagos State and lend its voice in commending the laudable efforts and stride of the Lagos State in running the affairs of the State.
Dated the 1st day of September 2022
Signed:
M. A.O. Kaka Esq.
Chairman MULAM Lagos State Branch
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