Hijab: Osun Court Strikes out Stay of Execution Suit Filed by CAN

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo
An Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo on Tuesday struck out the application for the stay of execution of June 3 judgment allowing Muslim students to wear Hijab as approved by the state government to public schools.

The state chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had on June 22 filed an application before the state High Court  asking for a stay of execution of the judgment.

However, at the court sitting yesterday, Justice Jide Falola, in a brief ruling struck out the case based on the fact that the state Christian Community has approached the Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, Ondo State capital to sit on the matter.

Tens of adherents of the two religions and their lawyers trooped to the court premises at Oke-Fia area of the state for the resumed hearing of the stay of execution application filed by CAN but met an empty courtroom.

According to information, the state CAN had in fresh affidavits deposed to by Rev. Jacob Asani and Rev. Olasunbo Ige urged Justice Falola to hand-off the case as the state Christian community has gone to a high court to adjudicate on the matter.
Consequently, Justice Falola who had abandoned the on-going court recess to attend to the case due to its importance, struck out the stay of execution application filed before his court.

The state CAN had through its counsel Olufemi Ayandokun, on Monday, July 18, headed to the Appeal Court to file all the necessary papers including a fresh application for a stay of execution of the June 3 Hijab judgment.

Justice Falola had during the last court sitting on July 8 admonished all the parties in the matter to refrain themselves from doing anything against constituted authority, saying his judgment was based on the law and facts before him “at that material time” and that the case was a constitutional issue that will still be taken to the Supreme Court.

 Meanwhile, the state CAN Chairman, Rev. Elisha Ogundiya, has called on Christians across the state to be law-abiding pending the determination of the case before the Appeal Court, while wishing that the state government would ensure that the status-quo would be maintained in the state public schools.

According to him, the state CAN would pursue the matter to a logical conclusion and urged his members to be vigilant and prayerful for a successful conclusion of the suit at the appellate court.

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