Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court 9 in Ibadan, the state capital has fixed March 22 for report of settlement in a suit filed by parents of some female Muslim students of University of Ibadan International School Ibadan (ISI) over denial on use of Hijab.
Counsel to parents seeking to wear Hijab Dr Wahab Egbewole (SAN) told Justic-e Oladiran Akintola of Oyo state High Court 9 on Wednesday that a meeting of counsels and parties was scheduled to hold after the court.
At the resumed hearing on Wednesday which Secular parents were joined as interested party to the suit, Justice Akintola expressed optimism that the learned counsels will be able to reach truce.
Parents of some Muslim students of ISI had sued the school on behalf of their wards for violating the fundamental human right of their wards for not allowing them to wear hijab on their school uniform.
The Muslim parents who filed the suit on behalf of their children are Taofeek Yekinni, Idris Badiru, Sikiru Babarinde, Muideen Akerele, Abdurrahman Balogun and nine others.
Also joined as respondents in the suit are the University of Ibadan, Principal of the school, Mrs Phebean Olowe and the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics) University of Ibadan who doubles as the Chairman of the Board of Governors in the school, Professor Yinka Aderinto.
The claimants want the court to declare the continuous denial of the authority of ISI to allow the female Muslim students from wearing hijab on their school uniform as wrongful and unconstitutional.
Akintola fixed the date on Wednesday after listened to the steps taken by parties on the advice given to them at the previous sitting by the judge to try to settle the matter out of court.
He said, “We should all savage the situation together and am sure the matter can be amicably resolved.
“The matter is adjourned to March 22 for report of settlement and mention”.
Counsel to the parents seeking wearing of hijab by their children, Prof Abdulwahab Egbewole (SAN) had earlier told the court that parties were trying to meet to see how the matter can be settled out of court.
Egbewole said that the parties had agreed to meet after the court sitting of Wednesday.
Counsel to the 1st and 4th respondents, Mrs Oluwatobi Ola and other respondents confirmed the position of the claimants counsel.
