An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan, yesterday, awarded N240,000 against University of Ibadan (UI) International School, Ibadan (ISI) and four others for causing delay in hearing of a suit filed by female Muslim students of the school over use of hijab.

Eleven female Muslim students of the school and the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) had filed the suit over the alleged refusal of the school to allow them wear hijabs on their school uniforms.

However, the award of the cost followed an application by counsel for first to fifth respondents, Dr. Babatunde Ajibade, to substitute the name of the former Principal of the school, Mrs. Phebean Olowe, with the new principal’s name, Mr. Yinka Akintunde, at the resumption of the hearing.

In his response, counsel to first to 11 applicants, Mr. Hassan Fajimite, informed the court that he was not opposed to the application for substitution of the name.

The trial judge, Justice Moshood Ishola, granted the application for substitution of the name of Olowe with Akintunde in the interest of fair hearing.

The judge said he had considered the argument of all the counsel in the matter and a cost of N20,000 is awarded against the first to fifth respondents in favour of each of the 12 applicants in the matter. He, however, adjourned the matter till May 4, 2023, for hearing of the substantive application.

(Text, excluding headline: The Guardian)