A teenager, Lawal Hameedat Adenike, has filed a lawsuit against the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and PEFTI CBT Centre, alleging she was forced to remove her hijab before participating in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The case was brought on her behalf by her mother, Basirat Ojo, and solicitor, Qousim Opakunle.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Friday, Ojo recounted the incident that took place on April 25, 2025, at the PEFTI CBT Centre in Ibadan, Oyo State. She stated that her daughter was barred from entering the exam hall unless she removed her hijab, which she wears for religious reasons. “The experience was painful and humiliating for my daughter. As her mother, I had to take action to protect her rights,” Ojo said.
The plaintiffs are demanding a public apology from JAMB and PEFTI, to be published in two national newspapers, along with compensation for the violation of Adenike’s rights. Opakunle, the solicitor, emphasized the legal grounds for the lawsuit, stating, “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.”
