The Nigerian Law School has dismissed allegations that female Muslim candidates wearing hijab were harassed or prevented from entering examination halls during the recently concluded Bar Final Examinations.
The institution maintained that it had no policy or established practice of religious discrimination, insisting that its examination regulations were designed to ensure proper identification, prevent malpractice and protect the integrity of the examinations.
In a statement published on its Facebook page on Wednesday, the Secretary to the Council and Director of Administration, Aderonke Osho, described reports of discrimination against hijab-wearing candidates as false.
The school explained that its security measures applied to all candidates, regardless of their religious beliefs or appearance.
Why Hijab-Wearing Student Was Apprehended
The Nigerian Law School disclosed that a female student wearing a hijab was apprehended during the Bar Part I examinations on October 29.
According to the institution, the student was allegedly found with an earpiece concealed inside her hijab and a mobile phone strapped to her thigh.
It added that the matter was still under investigation in accordance with its examination regulations and other relevant rules.
The school stressed that the incident should not be interpreted as an attempt to discriminate against Muslim candidates, noting that its examination procedures were applied fairly.
It also referred to Sections 38 and 42 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, which guarantee freedom of religion and prohibit discrimination against citizens on religious grounds.
The controversy followed criticism from the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), which had condemned an alleged restriction on candidates wearing hijab during the examinations.
MURIC argued that other Muslim candidates should not be subjected to collective punishment because of alleged examination misconduct involving an individual student.
The organisation maintained that candidates should be allowed to exercise their religious rights while participating in the examinations.
The debate has also brought renewed attention to the 2022 Supreme Court judgment affirming the right of female Muslim students in Lagos State public schools to wear hijab over their school uniforms.
In the case involving the Lagos State Government and Asiyat AbdulKareem and others, the Supreme Court upheld the students’ constitutional right to practise and express their religious beliefs.
Although the judgment specifically concerned public schools in Lagos State and not the Nigerian Law School, it remains an important reference point in discussions about religious freedom in educational institutions.
The Nigerian Law School has urged members of the public to avoid drawing premature conclusions about the controversy, insisting that its ongoing investigation should be allowed to establish the facts.
The Nigerian Law School is responsible for providing the compulsory one-year professional training required for law graduates seeking to practise in Nigeria. Candidates must successfully complete the programme and pass the Bar examinations before being called to the Nigerian Bar.
The institution operates under the supervision of the Council of Legal Education, while successful candidates are formally called to the Bar by the Body of Benchers, the highest regulatory body in the Nigerian legal profession.
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