The Islamic human rights organisation has also called for the suspension of all Law School examinations pending an investigation into the alleged incidents and demanded that affected candidates be allowed to retake their examinations where necessary.
In a statement on Sunday, MURIC Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, alleged that female Muslim candidates wearing hijab were prevented from entering examination halls at some Law School centres on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
According to him, some candidates were allegedly made to stand outside examination halls for about an hour and were only allowed to enter after removing their hijabs.
Akintola said the organisation received numerous telephone calls, text messages and online complaints from affected candidates, distressed parents and concerned Muslims across the country.
“MURIC strongly condemns the wanton disruption of the lawful educational pursuit of innocent Muslim ladies. It is crude, irrational and sadistic,” he said.
The group expressed concern that the alleged incidents occurred at an institution responsible for legal education and professional training, arguing that the conduct undermined constitutional protections and judicial pronouncements on religious freedom.
Akintola cited Section 38(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which guarantees freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including the freedom to manifest and practise one’s religion.
He also referenced the Supreme Court’s decision in Lagos State Government & Others v. Asiyat Abdulkareem (2022), which upheld the right of Muslim female students to wear hijab in public schools in Lagos State.
The MURIC director further argued that the alleged treatment of the candidates violated Section 42 of the Constitution, which prohibits discrimination, and Section 34, which guarantees the dignity of the human person and prohibits torture and inhuman or degrading treatment.
Consequently, the organisation demanded the suspension of all Law School examinations until the allegations of harassment, profiling, stigmatisation and the forced removal of hijabs had been investigated.
It also called for affected candidates who requested another opportunity to sit their examinations to be allowed to do so, particularly those allegedly delayed outside examination halls for up to 15 minutes or longer.
MURIC further warned that it would mobilise parents of affected candidates, Muslim youths and other stakeholders for peaceful protests across Law School campuses if its demands were not met.
The organisation accused Muslim community leaders and parents of failing to do enough to protect the rights of Muslim students and urged them to support efforts to secure justice for the affected candidates.
“In loco parentis, we are not only expected to send our children and wards to school but to also monitor and protect them,” Akintola said.
He urged parents whose daughters were allegedly affected to participate in the proposed peaceful action, warning that failure to defend their rights could have consequences for future generations.
The group also called on Muslim youths to take a more active role in defending civil liberties, describing them as potential drivers of change in the struggle for religious freedom and equal treatment.
However, MURIC emphasised that any protest it organised would remain peaceful and urged participants to reject violence.
“The only caveat, of course, is that whoever joins this struggle must abide by MURIC’s peaceful mode of struggle. Our motto is ‘Dialogue, No Violence’ and by that motto we shall always abide,” the statement added.
We’ve got the edge. Get real-time reports, breaking scoops, and exclusive angles delivered straight to your phone. Don’t settle for stale news. Join LEADERSHIP NEWS on WhatsApp for 24/7 updates →
Join Our WhatsApp Channel
