The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) Nigeria has accused the Council of Legal Education of endorsing religious discrimination following its response to allegations that female Muslim candidates were harassed over their hijabs during examinations at the Nigerian Law School.
MPAC, in a statement issued on Thursday, November 5, 2026, described the Council’s November 4 response as a defence of the alleged discriminatory treatment rather than a genuine attempt to address the complaints raised by Muslim candidates and advocates.
The organisation had earlier, on October 31, raised concerns over the alleged harassment of female Muslim candidates at the Law School, particularly at the Bwari and Lagos campuses.
According to MPAC, some candidates were allegedly stopped at the entrance of the Main Multipurpose Hall, compelled to remove their hijabs and re-wrap them like turbans before being allowed into the examination venue.
The group also alleged that candidates wearing long, modest dresses were subjected to selective scrutiny, while others wearing shorter outfits were allowed entry without similar questioning.
In the statement signed by its Executive Chairman, Disu Kamor, MPAC said the Council failed to address the specific allegations, insisting that its response focused on an alleged exclusion of female Muslim candidates rather than the reported harassment and humiliation at examination venues.
The organisation further questioned the Council’s decision to describe the reports as “false in all particular material” while simultaneously stating that an investigation into a separate October 29 incident was still ongoing.
MPAC argued that the Council could not call for restraint and allow institutional processes to establish the facts while already dismissing eyewitness accounts as false.
The group also faulted the Council for citing an alleged examination misconduct case involving a candidate on October 29, describing it as an inappropriate basis for subjecting other Muslim female candidates to suspicion.
It maintained that an allegation involving an individual should not be used to justify what it called collective suspicion against Muslim women who wear the hijab.
While acknowledging the need to maintain examination integrity, MPAC insisted that security procedures must be conducted respectfully, uniformly and without discrimination.
It recommended that any necessary physical screening of candidates wearing religious garments should be conducted privately by female officers, without compelling candidates to publicly unwrap or alter their hijabs.
The organisation also cited the Supreme Court judgement in Lagos State Government & Ors v. Asiyat Abdulkareem & Ors (SC/910/2016), delivered on June 17, 2022, arguing that the apex court had affirmed the constitutional protection of the hijab under Section 38 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
MPAC said the judgement, alongside the constitutional provisions prohibiting discrimination and protecting human dignity, should guide the conduct of authorities at the Nigerian Law School.
The organisation recalled the 2017 controversy involving Firdausa Amasa, who was excluded from the Call to Bar ceremony over her decision to wear the hijab. The decision was subsequently reversed by the Body of Benchers in June 2018.
Demands Independent Investigation
As part of its demands, MPAC called on the Council of Legal Education and the management of the Nigerian Law School to withdraw their description of the reports as false or publish the evidence supporting the claim.
It also demanded an independent and transparent investigation into the incidents of October 31 at the Bwari and Lagos campuses, including a review of available CCTV footage and interviews with affected candidates and eyewitnesses.
The organisation further urged the authorities to publish the circular permitting the use of hijab and the applicable examination screening protocols, while ensuring that the guidelines are enforced across all campuses.
MPAC also called for a clear directive prohibiting the public removal or alteration of hijabs and the harassment of candidates wearing long, modest dresses.
Other demands include protection against victimisation of candidates who report discrimination, appropriate sanctions against those found responsible and a public acknowledgement of the distress allegedly suffered by the affected candidates.
The group called on the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Body of Benchers to intervene urgently.
It assured affected candidates of its continued support, adding that complaints could be submitted confidentially through its website.
MPAC maintained that the Nigerian Law School, as an institution responsible for training future legal practitioners, must demonstrate respect for constitutional rights and the rule of law.
“A profession that exists to uphold the Constitution must not begin by defending its violation at the entrance of its own examination hall,” the statement added.