Teenager drags JAMB to court over hijab ban during UTME

A teenager, Lawal Hameedat Adenike, has taken the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB and PEFTI to court for allegedly forcing her to remove her hijab before sitting the University Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

Vanguard reports that the case was filed on behalf of the candidate by her mother and solicitor.

The mother, Basirat Ojo, speaking to journalists in Abuja on Friday, recounted the incident that occurred on 25 April 2025 at the PEFTI CBT Centre in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.

According to the mother, the candidate was told at the exam centre that she could not participate in the exercise unless she removed her hijab, which she wears for religious reasons.

She lamented that the development was a painful and humiliating experience for her daughter.

“As her mother, I had to take action to protect her rights”, she said.

The mother and the solicitor, Qousim Opakunle, are demanding a public apology from JAMB and PEFTI.

According to them, the apology must be published in two national newspapers, stressing that there must be compensation for the violation of her rights.

Lawal’s solicitor also emphasised the legal basis for the case.

He said, “This demand violates Section 38 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.

“It is our duty to protect these fundamental rights, especially for minors who cannot defend themselves.”