Nigerian Law School denies hijab harassment claims during Bar exams, cites cheating case
The Nigerian Law School has denied allegations that female Muslim candidates wearing hijab were harassed or barred from the Bar Final Examinations held on 31 October. In a Wednesday Facebook statement, the school's Secretary to Council, Aderonke Osho, called the claims false and insisted the institution has no policy of religious discrimination.
The controversy stems from a specific incident during Bar Part I exams on 29 October. The school disclosed that a female student wearing a hijab was apprehended after allegedly being found with an earpiece hidden in her hijab and a mobile phone strapped to her thigh. That investigation is ongoing under examination rules.
The school says its security measures—including identification checks—apply equally to all candidates to prevent malpractice and protect exam integrity. It cites Sections 38 and 42 of the Constitution guaranteeing religious freedom and prohibiting discrimination.
The 2022 Supreme Court judgment affirming the right of female Muslim students in Lagos public schools to wear hijab adds context, though that ruling concerned public schools, not the Law School. The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has criticised alleged collective punishment of hijab-wearing candidates over one student's alleged misconduct.
With the investigation still underway, the Law School urges the public to avoid premature conclusions. For law graduates, the Bar exams remain a mandatory gateway to legal practice—any policy affecting religious expression during examinations carries significant implications for future lawyers.
Will the investigation clarify whether security protocols disproportionately target religious attire, or confirm the school's stance that measures are applied uniformly?