The lead judge, Justice Sidi Bage rebuked the government during the hearing of an appeal against ban on hijab at Igbosere, Lagos.
It would be recalled that the Court of Appeal had on November 19, 2015 heard the appellant motion against the ban on the Muslim headscarf.
The Guardian recalls that Lagos State Government banned the use of Hijab on the argument that it was not part of the approved school uniform for students.
Subsequently, members of the Muslim Students' Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit proceeded to court to seek redress and protect Muslim females from being flogged, embarrassed, and victimised for using the hijab within and outside school premises.
Earlier, in the High Court ruling, Justice Grace Modupe Onyeabo ruled against the use of hijab because of the 'secularity' of Lagos State.
After the high court judgment, the appeal court was approached but the counsel for Lagos State Government did not file a brief.
Instead, the Lagos State counsel, who is the Chief State Counsel, Mr. Oluwole Ligali, filed a motion for extension during the yesterday's hearing and also pleaded to file response within one week.
However, the lead judge faulted the Lagos State Government, alleging that it was "playing with a case of public interest."
Earlier, Wasiu Amoo, who led other seven other lawyers representing the appellants, withdrew their motion, asking the court to set down the matter for hearing since Lagos State Government has eventually filled their motion asking for the court to allow them file their respondent brief out of time.
After granting the request, the case was subsequently adjourned to May 3, 2016.
