By Matthew Tabe
There’s a festering crisis in Oyo State as the absence of Justice Moshood Ishola of the State High Court, on Tuesday, stalled the case challenging prohibition of wearing of Hijab by female Muslim students of the International School Ibadan.
Recall that the case was recently transferred from Justice Ladiran Akintola, who was previously handling the matter, to Justice Ishola.
The Enforcement of Fundamental Human Rights suit was instituted by the Muslim Rights Concern and 11 female Muslim students of the ISI, University of Ibadan, against the school management.
The claimants are: Farida Moshood, Alkifah Dokpesi, Raheemah Akinlusi, Aliya Dokpesi, Imam Akinoso, Hamdalat Olusunde, Aliyah Adebayo, Moriddiya Yekinni, Iklas Badiru, Adeola Babarinde and Faridah Chidinma.
Other respondents in the suit are: the school principal, Mrs Phebean Olowe; the chairman, Board of Governors, Prof. Abideen Aderinto; and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Dr Olalekan Jeremiah; Prof. Babatunde Okolo, Lukman Ajibade, Tunde Aro and Fatumise Abey.
At the resumption of proceedings, the case was slated for hearing before Justice Ishola, but the case could not go on because the judge did not sit.