Supreme Court Dismisses Rivers State University Appeal, Upholds Muslim Students’ Right to Worship on Campus

The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal filed by Rivers State University (RSU), ending a long legal dispute that started in 2012 over the right of Muslim students to pray and have a place of worship on campus.

The case was brought by Umaru Wazuru and 98 other Muslim students, who complained that the university authorities prevented them from observing prayers and establishing a mosque, even though churches were already operating within the campus.

In 2013, the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt ruled in favour of the students. The court held that denying Muslim students a place of worship violated their constitutional right to freedom of religion.

RSU appealed the judgment, but in 2017, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal and affirmed the High Court’s decision.

The university went further to the Supreme Court. On February 10, 2026, the Supreme Court unanimously dismissed the appeal, confirming that Muslim students have the right to worship freely and should be allocated a suitable space on campus.

This decision is final and binding, and the university is expected to comply with the court’s ruling.