STOP LURING MUSLIM STUDENTS TO CHURCH PROGRAMMES: LAGOS MURIC TELLS LASG

 

30^th November, 2023

PRESS RELEASE:

STOP LURING MUSLIM STUDENTS TO CHURCH PROGRAMMES: LAGOS MURIC TELLS LASG

 

The Lagos State Chapter of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC),  has called on the education authorities in Lagos State to desist from luring innocent and unsuspecting Muslim Students across the six educational districts of the State to the annual Christian programme of the founder of the Christ Embassy, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, under the guise of fake humanitarian programmes.

 

In a press statement released on Thursday, 30th November, 2023 by the Chairman of MURIC in Lagos State, Dr Busari Muhammad Jamiu Ademola, the Islamic human rights group bemoaned the attitude of the officers of the ministry of education in luring students to the program through official invitation.

 

The Statement reads:

 

"We are deeply worried by the incessant luring of innocent Muslim Students to church programmes, particularly that of Pastor Chris Oyakhilome. The programme as reliably investigated is sponsored by the cleric who, in conjunction with the officials of the Lagos State ministry of education, arranged the transportation of students to the venue. The students irrespective of their faiths are ferried to Christian programmes and deceived with gifts.

 

"This deceitful event has been on for more than five years. This year's program which is slated for December 3, 2023 is coined as 'Invitation to Host  Students in Commemoration of  Birthday of their Principal, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome' through a school named Teens Voice Academy Lagos.

 

"This is unbelievable and unspeakable of ministry officials directing principals of public schools in the six districts to arrange students for such an event. Where is the correlation? On whose directives is this happening? Is Pastor Oyakhilome now the owner of Lagos State public schools? LASG has sold out Lagos to Oyakhilome.

 

"Exempli gratia, a memo signed and distributed by one Mrs Oyegbile, K.O on behalf of TG/PS of District I, Agege, was circulated this week to school principals. According to the memo, four venues (Sango Senior, Keke Senior, Oba Sanni Komolafe Youth center and Palmtime Resorts) have been designated as meeting points for students to converge en route the venue. The circular also announced  Mr Oladiti Oladele Olaitan as the programme coordinator whose contact (telephone number included) could be reached for any assistance.

 

"It is then crystal clear that the organizers and certain elements in the ministry, via educational districts are behind this programme to adulterate the faith of innocent Muslim children with Christian ideologies.

 

"To this end, MURIC strongly condemns the involvement of state paraphernalia in a pastor's birthday celebration. It is hero-worshiping taken too far.

 

“LASG has no right whatsoever to use students of public schools for a private individual's birthday program. While we object to using any student, whether Muslim or Christian for Oyakhilome's party, we have serious objection to using a single Muslim student for same.

 

“The parents entrusted their children to LASG mainly for academic purpose, taking them out on evangelical jamboree is definitely not part of the deal. It is therefore gross abuse of trust to divert students' attention to the birthday party of a pastor.

 

“School children can attend the governor's function or that of the president of Nigeria because those are government officials. The pastor is also free to organize students of private schools to attend his birthday. We must draw a line of demarcation between clerics and public officers. 

 

It is taking the joke too far if pastors and Imams are elevated to the level of governors and heads of state by making students of public schools to attend their birthdays. It is another form of slavery.

 

MURIC is therefore calling on the Lagos State Government, the State Ministry of Education and all Tutor Generals throughout the State to ensure that no single student of Lagos public schools is taken to Oyakhilome's birthday program. 

 

However, even if we overlook the involvement of Christian children, taking Muslim children to a private function of a Christian pastor contravenes Section 38, Sub- section 2 of Nigeria 1999 Nigeria Constitution as amended which states that 'No person attending any place of education shall be required to receive religious instruction or to take part in or attend any religious ceremony or observance if such instruction, ceremony or observance relates to a religion other than his own, or religion not approved by his parent or guardian'.

 

"We advise the concerned authorities to desist from this unconstitutional acts, and stop luring Muslim children to Christian programmes. The Muslim teachers also are not to be coerced by school principals and assigned as supervisors to accompany students to church programmes.

 

"Lastly, we remind our leaders that religion is not by cohesion, our children must be spared of this neo-colonial practice. We are all Nigerians, live peacefully and let live!!!

 

#DontLureOurChildrenToChurch

#EducateDontEvangelise

 

Dr. Busari Muhammad Jamiu Ademola.

Chairman,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

Lagos Chapter.

 

 

ABDUCTION, MOLESTATION OF BARRISTER LAWAL: MURIC DEMANDS JUSTICE

 

27^th November, 2023

PRESS RELEASE:

ABDUCTION, MOLESTATION OF BARRISTER LAWAL:

MURIC DEMANDS JUSTICE

 

An Ibadan-based lawyer, Barrister Abdul Waheed Olatunde Lawal, was abducted and severely beaten on the 13th of November, 2023 after his vehicle was ambushed at Iware Junction, about 20 kilometers from Ilua, along Ilua/Ekokan Road in Saki West. The Baale of Ilua, Chief Ajani Kilani Azeez, has been fingered as the brain behind the criminal abduction and brutalisation of the lawyer.

 

 

Meanwhile an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has waded into the matter. The Muslim rights advocacy group has demanded justice for Barrister Lawal. MURIC insists that the case must not be swept under the carpet.

 

In a statement circulated to newsmen on Monday, 27^th November, 2023, the Executive Director of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Professor Ishaq Akintola, averred :

 

 

“The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) is in possession of video clips, one of which reveals the inhuman treatment meted to Barrister Abdul Waheed Olatunde Lawal, an Ibadan-based lawyer.

 

 

“According to the narration, Barrister Lawal was abducted and severely beaten on the 13th of November, 2023 after his vehicle was ambushed at Iware Junction, about 20 kilometers from Ilua, along Ilua/Ekokan Road in Saki West. The Baale of Ilua, Chief Ajani Kilani Azeez, has been fingered as the brain behind the criminal abduction and dehumanizing brutalisation of the lawyer.

 

 

“Barrister Lawal suffered a broken arm, bodily injuries, as well as unbearable pain in his eyes and eyes as a result of heavy blows rained on him during the unlawful abduction and in the course of his illegal detention and unlawful interrogation at the palace of the Baale of Ilua. The victim was later hospitalized for five days. He is still visiting the University of Ibadan Teaching Hospital (UCH) where he is still being treated for eye and ear injuries.

 

 

"This is definitely a case of conscienceless power subjugating powerless conscience. Chamberlain's 'five evils', namely, brute force, bad faith, injustice, oppression and persecution have manifested in the dehumanization of Barrister Lawal by the thugs of the Baale of Ilua in Saki South West. 

 

 

"The perpetrators of this animalistic treatment of a legal luminary must be taught the lessons of their lives. The law must take its full course and no aspect of the case must be swept under the carpet. 

 

 

"One of the video clips shows how the lawyer was forced to kneel down while he was being beaten up in the presence of the Baale and surrounded by the Baale's men. This is unacceptable. It is preposterous, outrageous and horrendous.

 

 

“Section 34 (b) & (c) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended (2011) stipulates the right to the dignity of the human person as it declares:

‘Every individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person, and accordingly…(b) no person shall be held in slavery or servitude and (c) no person shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour.

 

 

“The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Article 4, Clause 1 & 2 also says, ‘Human beings are inviolable. Every human being shall be entitled to respect for his life and the integrity of his person.’

 

 

“Contrary to the above constitutional and continental clauses and stipulations, the Baale of Ilua, Chief Ajani Kilani Azeez, through his agents and under his watchful eyes (as evidenced in the video), caused Barrister Lawal to be forced to kneel down and, under duress, to answer questions capable of implicating him in a court of law. Blows were rained on the lawyer if he did not give a ‘favourable’ answer.

 

 

“It is therefore very glaring that the Baale and his accomplices have severally and most severely violated Barrister Lawal’s Allah-given fundamental human rights to freedom of movement as provided in Section 41(1) and the dignity of his human person as provided in Section 34 of the Nigerian Constitution, the grundnorm and font et origo incarnate.    

 

 

"We appeal to the Oyo State judiciary to take full cognisance of this incontrovertible evidence. The judiciary should therefore ensure that all the culprits face the full wrath of the law according to the level of their involvement because it is a general principle in law that there must be a degree of participation in any criminal liability. We assert, without any fear of contradiction, that all those who sat watching the molestation of the lawyer in the video are accomplices.

 

 

"MURIC reminds the police and members of the Oyo State judiciary that those who dealt so brutishly and mercilessly with a lawyer in the course of duty will not hesitate to do worse to them if they have the opportunity. Unless they are punished there will be no deterrence to others who may want to out-Herod Herod in future.

 

 

"A baale's palace is not a police station. It is therefore not recognized as a place where investigation, interrogation, arrest and detention can take place. The Baale of Ilua has arrogated to himself the function of the police. He has turned himself to the judge and prosecutor, the Alpha and the Omega. His word is law. 

 

 

"According to the law, abduction occurs when somebody is taken to a place against his will. Barrister Abdul Waheed Olatunde Lawal was ambushed at Iware Junction, 20 kilometers from Ilua. He was forced out of his vehicle and put in another vehicle, all against his will. He was then forcefully driven 20 kilometers away from the scene of abduction and taken to the Baale’s palace where he was illegally detained.

 

 

"What they did to the lawyer in the baale's palace is nothing but trial by ordeals. The lawyer was subjected to torture as well as physical and psychological trauma. The perpetrators must pay for this horrible atrocity.

 

 

"MURIC wishes to put the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on notice. Against the law and against good conscience, the Baale of Ilua, a part III Baale who is still unrecognized according to Chiefs Law has elected to encroach on Allah-given fundamental human rights of a practicing lawyer and bona fide member of the prestigious NBA. What infra dignitatem! Here is Rome burning. Nero must not be dancing.

 

 

"It is immaterial whether the victim is a member of the Baale’s family or not but the assault and molestation occurred in the cause of his duty as a lawyer. Attack on a lawyer in the cause of discharge of his duty as a legal practitioner is an attack on the noble legal profession. 

 

 

"It is most unacceptable to force a full-grown man, a family head and bread winner (and a lawyer for that matter) to be on his knees in the midst of people who have no respect whatsoever for education, civilisation and rule of law to be thoroughly assaulted. The law must surely take its due course.

 

 

"NBA must stand up to be counted when one of its own suffers undeserved, undignifying and dehumanizing treatment like this one. Assault on one is assault on all. The molestation of Barrister Lawal by the thugs of Baale of Ilua is a threat to the rule of law, to law and order and to civil decorum.

 

 

"We reject the Baale's alibi as he claimed in another video clip that it was the Area Commander who gave him the order to 'arrest' (abduct) Barrister Lawal. It is an attempt to hide under the canopy of an officer of the law when indeed the Baale has no scintilla of respect for the rule of law.

 

 

"The Area Commander will do no such thing because he knows that the Baale's thugs are not policemen, the only agents of government empowered by law to effect arrest, interrogation, investigation and prosecution. The Baale's action is therefore ultra vires, illegal, illegitimate, unlawful and unconstitutional. 

 

 

"Before we drop the anchor, it may be pertinent to reveal that Barrister Lawal is the Vice Chairman of MURIC in the Oyo State branch of our organisation. We attest to his integrity, incorruptibility and high level credibility. We will therefore not rest on our oars until justice is not only done but seen to have been done. Injury to one is injury to all.

 

 

“We assert clearly, categorically and unequivocally that under the law, the conduct of the Baale of Ilua, Chief Ajani Kilani Azeez and his thugs render them liable to conspiracy, conduct likely to cause breach of the peace, illegal arrest, unlawful detention and criminal abduction. They should be so charged. We demand justice for Barrister Lawal.”

 

#OyoJudiciary

#NBA

#LawyerAbductedTortured

#JusticeForBarristerLawal

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

ALLOW FEMALE MUSLIMS IN LASTMA TO WEAR HIJAB - MURIC

 

23^rd November, 2023

PRESS RELEASE:

ALLOW FEMALE MUSLIMS IN LASTMA TO WEAR HIJAB - MURIC

 

Amidst reports that Muslim women in the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) are facing harassment over the right to use hijab while in uniform, a Muslim Rights advocacy group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on the authorities of LASTMA to approve the use of hijab without delay. 

 

 

MURIC based its call on the approval of hijab by the Nigerian Police since 4th March 2022. Muslim police women who desire to use hijab have since started to use it on their uniform.

 

 

The call was made on Thursday, 23rd November, 2023 in a press statement signed by the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

His full statement reads:

 

"There have been reports of warnings and reprimands handed down to female Muslim officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) who have expressed desire to use hijab. 

 

 

"The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) frowns at this repressive attitude. We condemn attempts to restrict the religious freedom of Muslims under any guise in uniformed agencies. Hijab is an expression of freedom to practice and liberty to manifest one's faith. 

 

 

"Any attempt to curtail workers' freedom of worship through the disapproval of hijab constitutes a violation of their Allah-given fundamental human rights as enshrined in Section 38(i)&(ii) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

 

 

"Therefore, any circular, ordinance, rule, regulation, memorandum, parade instruction, oral last order, signal, etc against the use of hijab anywhere in Nigeria is illegal, illegitimate, unlawful and unconstitutional. Section 1(1)&(3) of the Constitution declares the Nigerian Constitution supreme over all other instructions emanating from institutions and agencies in the country and since the same constitution stipulates freedom of religion, anything to the contrary is ultra vires, null and void. 

 

 

"We therefore advise traffic agencies in all states of the federation, particularly LASTMA authorities in Lagos to take a cue from the approval of hijab by the Nigeria Police which came into effect since March 2022 by allowing female traffic officers who wish to wear hijab to do so according to the law.

 

 

It will be paradoxical for traffic law officers to break the law by illegally and unlawfully encroaching on Allah-given fundamental human rights of Muslim traffic officers to use hijab. 

 

 

"America, Britain, South Africa, etc are now in the league of countries whose female Muslim soldiers, police and traffic officers use hijab without let or hindrance. The use of hijab by Muslim women in uniformed services is therefore a global practice. Nigeria joined the bandwagon when the Nigerian Police approved the use of hijab for its female Muslim officers. 

 

 

"If indeed Lagos is the center of excellence, it should lead other states in matters of civil liberties. This is why Lagos cannot afford to be left behind in this issue of hijab for traffic officers. Lagos as the center of excellence must be part of global best practices.

 

 

"Besides, female Muslim police officers in Lagos State started using hijab from the moment it was approved by the Nigerian Police in March 2022. In the name of equity and fairness, their LASTMA counterparts cannot be deprived of the same right moreso since many of them are already agitating for it. Neither can LASTMA afford to be anti-Muslim.

 

 

"MURIC therefore implores LASTMA authorities and their counterparts in other states to allow female Muslim staff who wish to use hijab to do so. This is a matter of civic right and existential guarantee. MURIC as a human rights group will monitor this development in all the states of the federation. We hereby put all our state branches on notice for effective monitoring and prompt notification where there are breaches.

 

#Lastma

#Hijab

#Femalemuslimtrafficofficers 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

INVESTIGATE DENIAL OF MUSLIMS’ RIGHTS IN AFE BABALOLA UNIVERSITY: MURIC TELLS NUC

 

20^th November, 2023

PRESS RELEASE:

INVESTIGATE DENIAL OF MUSLIMS’ RIGHTS IN AFE BABALOLA UNIVERSITY:  MURIC TELLS NUC

 

Amidst reports of denial of the rights of female Muslim students of Afe Babalola University to use hijab, one of the lecturers of the institution has allegedly attempted to record a female Muslim student on video for refusing to remove her hijab.

 

 

Meanwhile an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has called on the National Universities Commission (NUC) to investigate the incessant harassment, intimidation and violation of the fundamental human rights of hijab-wearing students by the authoriities of Afe Babalola University.

 

 

This was disclosed in a statement circulated to the media on Monday 20^th November, 2023 by the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

The statement reads :

 

“A video clip which emerged on socio media on Friday, 17^th November, 2023 purportedly showed a lecturer at the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), filming a female Muslim student who wore hijab (https://www.intelregion.com/news/outrage-as-afe-babalola-university-lecturer-harasses-muslim-female-student-for-refusing-to-remove-her-hijab/).

 

 

“The lecturer’s action is egregious, outrageous and outrightly repugnant. It is indubitable stigmatization of the girl-child on account of her faith. Such stereotyping is most likely to force the victim to drop out of school due to the psychological trauma which is the attendant after-effect of the harassment.

 

 

“Just as there is no smoke without fire, we contend that the filming incident occurred a fortiori and as a corollary to the ban on hijab in ABUAD. Muslim students in ABUAD must be protected against a crackdown on Islamic activities and a vicious anti-hijab campaign.

 

 

“The ban on hijab contravenes Section 38 (i) & (ii) of Nigeria’s grundnorm which provides that ‘every person shall be entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom (either alone or in community with others, and in public or in private) to manifest and propagate his religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance’.

 

 

“No institution, tertiary, secondary or primary has the power to make rules or regulations which deny religious freedom or bans the use of hijab. This is because the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria makes the Nigerian Constitution the font et origo of all laws, rules, regulations, directives, memoranda, etc. As a result no rule emanating from any other source shall override its provisions.  

 

“Chapter 1, Part 1, Section 1(1) & (3) of the 1999 Constitution stipulates: ‘This Constitution is supreme and its provisions shall have binding force on all authorities and persons throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria.’

 

 

“In particular, Section 1(3) says, ‘If any other law is inconsistent with the provisions of this Constitution, this Constitution shall prevail, and that other law shall to the extent of the inconsistency be void.’

 

 

“ABUAD school regulation (‘that other law’) which disallows hijab is therefore illegal, illegitimate, unlawful and unconstitutional to the extent of its inconsistency’. It is ultra vires, null and void.

 

 

“MURIC therefore calls on the National Universities Commission (NUC) to, without delay, investigate this incident in particular as well as the antecedental anti-hijab and anti-Muslim regulations of the university which served as catalysts to the lecturer’s action.  

 

 

“We also advise NUC to ensure that every individual or group, whether Muslim or Christian, seeking to establish a private university should be made to sign an undertaking guaranteeing religious freedom. In addition, NUC should review the approval clauses of all existing private institutions in the country, whether owned by Muslims or Christians, with a view to making them sign the same undertaking. This is necessary because private institutions are behaving as if they have the power to change the faith of their students as they wish.

 

 

“Nonetheless, we recall that we warned Muslim parents in November 2023 to avoid Christian private universities because of their proclivity to encroach on Allah-given fundamental human rights of Muslim students (https://muslimrightsmuric.blogspot.com/2022/11/muric-to-nigerian-muslims-avoid.html; https://dailypost.ng/2022/11/24/avoid-christian-private-universities-in-nigeria-muric-warns-muslims/).

 

 

“Although this should not become a licence for individual Christians or groups who establish private universities to exploit or persecute Muslim children, some of those ugly incidents are avoidable if Muslim students and their parents shift attention from Christian private institutions to federal universities and, admittedly, the few Muslim private institutions.”

 

#Hijab

#AfeBabalolaUniversity

#StopPersecutingMuslimStudents

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).