Nigeria: Nigerian Law School Denies Barring Hijab-Wearing Candidates From Bar Exams

What the report says

The Nigerian Law School has denied claims that female Muslim candidates wearing hijab were stopped from entering Bar Final Examination halls, after allegations circulated around the 31 October exams. In a statement posted on its Facebook page, the school said it does not have any policy or practice that discriminates on religious grounds and urged the public not to draw conclusions before its inquiry is complete.

According to the school, its exam procedures are meant to verify candidates’ identities, prevent cheating and protect the integrity of the Bar examinations. It also said a female student wearing a hijab was apprehended during the Bar Part I examinations on 29 October after she was allegedly found with an earpiece hidden in the hijab and a mobile phone strapped to her thigh. The institution said the matter is still under investigation in line with its rules and relevant regulations.

The controversy comes amid broader debate in Nigeria over religious expression in schools. The article notes that the school invoked constitutional protections for freedom of religion and against discrimination, and that a 2022 Supreme Court ruling affirmed the right of Muslim students in Lagos State public schools to wear hijab. While that case did not involve the Nigerian Law School, it has been cited in public discussions about religious rights in educational settings.

Premium Times also reported that the Muslim Rights Concern criticized any restriction affecting hijab-wearing candidates, saying individuals should not face collective punishment for the alleged conduct of one student.