The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has demanded the suspension of examinations across all Nigerian Law School campuses over the alleged harassment and exclusion of female Muslim candidates wearing hijab from examination halls.
The organisation also called for an investigation into the incidents, which reportedly occurred during the final examinations for candidates seeking admission to the Nigerian Bar on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
MURIC warned that it would mobilise parents, Muslim youths and other stakeholders for peaceful protests across Law School campuses nationwide if its demands were not addressed.
The demand was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the organisation’s Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
According to Akintola, several female candidates wearing hijab were allegedly prevented from entering examination halls in different parts of the country because of their religious dressing.
He claimed that some candidates were forced to remain outside examination halls for about an hour and were only allowed to enter after removing their hijabs.
Akintola said the organisation received several telephone calls, text messages and online complaints from affected candidates, their parents and concerned Muslims during the examinations.
He condemned the alleged treatment, describing it as an infringement on the candidates’ rights and an unjustifiable disruption of their educational and professional pursuits.
The MURIC director expressed concern that the alleged incidents occurred at the Nigerian Law School, an institution responsible for legal education and professional training.
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He cited Sections 38(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantee freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including the right to practise and manifest religious beliefs.
The organisation also referred to the Supreme Court’s 2022 judgment in Lagos State Government and others v. Asiyat Abdulkareem, which it said affirmed the right of Muslim female students to wear hijab.
Furthermore, MURIC argued that the alleged actions violated Section 42 of the Constitution, which prohibits discrimination, and Section 34(1)(a), which protects human dignity and prohibits degrading treatment.
The organisation maintained that forcing female candidates to remove their hijabs amounted to an infringement on their constitutional rights.
The Nigerian Law School had not issued an official response to the allegations as of the time of the report.
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