# Nigeria hijab court rulings

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/nigeria-hijab-court-rulings
> Updated: 2026-07-30T20:09:30.000Z. Sources: 2. Developments: 2.

In early July 2026, a Nigerian Court of Appeal reversed a prior decision and reinstated a ban on wearing the hijab at an international school in Ibadan, reaffirming restrictions on religious attire in that institution. Later that month, the Oyo State High Court delivered a contrasting judgment, ruling that forcing female candidates to remove their hijab to sit the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) violated constitutional freedom of religion. The court ordered the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the test centre to pay damages and issue public apologies. The two decisions illustrate divergent judicial approaches within Nigeria’s legal system to the enforcement of hijab policies in educational settings.

## Timeline

### 2026-07-30: Oyo State High Court Rules Forced Hijab Removal for JAMB Exams Unconstitutional, Orders ₦10.5 Million Damages

Nigeria’s Oyo State High Court ruled that forcing hijab removal for JAMB exams breaches constitutional religion rights, ordering JAMB and PEFTI to pay ₦10 million plus costs and issue public apologies.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/oyo-state-high-court-rules-forced-hijab-removal-for-jamb-exams-unconstitutional-orders-105-million-d

### 2026-07-03: Nigeria Court of Appeal Reinstates Hijab Ban at International School Ibadan

Nigeria's Ibadan Court of Appeal reinstated a hijab ban at the International School, Ibadan, ruling the private school exempt from a Supreme Court precedent and sparking criticism from Muslim rights groups.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nigeria-court-of-appeal-reinstates-hijab-ban-at-international-school-ibadan

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Cite as: Nigeria hijab court rulings. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/nigeria-hijab-court-rulings