Afrigather The Authorized Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, of the Physique of Benchers, has given a Lagos-based lawyer and a human rights activist, Malcolm Omirhobo 24 days to reply to the petition filed in opposition to him by Muslim Rights Concern for showing in a local physician’s apparel to the Supreme Court docket and the Federal Excessive Court docket.
The 24 days discover given to Omirhobo by the LPDC was contained in a letter dated October 7, 2022.
Omirhobo had in response to the judgment of the Apex Court docket on the carrying of hijab by Muslim girls, on June 27, 2022, wearing his native physician apparel over his wig to the courtroom.
Nevertheless, in a letter dated October 7, 2022, and signed by the Secretary of LPDC, Mr Daniel Tela, requested Omirhobo to reply to a petition filed in opposition to him by MURIC over the way in which he dressed to the Supreme Court docket.
Omirhobo was directed to submit affidavits disclosing his defence to the Originating Software filed by MURIC in Swimsuit No. BB/LPDC/896/2022.
In a judgment delivered on June 17, 2022, the Supreme Court docket affirmed the choice of a Court docket of Attraction Lagos, which eliminated the ban on the usage of hijab in public colleges in Lagos State.
The apex courtroom in a cut up judgment of five-to-two, held that the appellate courtroom was proper in its verdict nullifying and setting apart the judgment of a Lagos Excessive Court docket that banned feminine Muslim college students from carrying the hijab (head masking veil) with their faculty uniforms.
It subsequently dismissed the enchantment introduced by Lagos State for missing in benefit.
On Thursday, June 23, 2022, Omirhobo in protest of the judgment was seen on the premises of the Supreme Court docket carrying his native physician apparel on his wig and robe. He additionally wore the identical gown to the Federal Excessive Court docket in Lagos on Monday, June 27.
The human proper lawyer, who appeared earlier than Justice Tijiani Ringim, barefooted with cowries tied on his two legs, and his wig had two lengthy feathers, with cowries in his two fingers and tied a crimson wrapper, whereas he wore his lawyer’s robe over it, was greeted with resistance by some attorneys who disagreed along with his look earlier than the courtroom in such dressing; arguing that he couldn’t be heard as he was not correctly dressed as a lawyer earlier than the courtroom.
When his case was referred to as, he introduced his look because the applicant and a few attorneys, Abdullah Dania, Mohammed Adamu and one Festus Afeyodion, instructed the courtroom that he shouldn’t be heard as he was not correctly robbed.
Dania stated, “I’m a lawyer, my Lord can think about the way in which my discovered pal seems earlier than the courtroom as an expert. The principles that govern us as a lawyer don’t permit improper dressing.”
Adamu instructed the courtroom that he wish to furnish the courtroom along with his written submission in step with the path of the courtroom.
The Punch had reported that Omirhobo appeared on the Federal Excessive Court docket in Lagos on Wednesday, morning on June 29, 2022, in a full wig, robe, black trousers, and sneakers.
He stated “the spirit,” requested him to “go regular,” including that he would revert to his non secular garb once more if directed.
Omirhobo claimed he’s a traditionalist and argued that his choice was based mostly on the Supreme Court docket’s judgment that dominated in favour of Muslim college students carrying hijab in Lagos colleges.
Omirhobo’s transfer, nevertheless, appeared, to have emboldened different attorneys.
As if that was all there may be to protest the Supreme Court docket choice on the carrying of a Hijab, one other lawyer, Dennis Ezekiel, appeared on the Federal Excessive Court docket in Lagos, carrying a rosary on his barrister’s apparel.
He defined that he was exercising his proper to non secular freedom following the hijab ruling.
Ezekiel stated, “My identify is Dennis Ezekiel. I’m a Christian, a Catholic, and I’m professing my faith by showing like this in courtroom. It’s my proper, enshrined in Part 38 of the 1999 Structure and laid down, enunciated by the Supreme Court docket (in its) judgment (on hijab). So, we now have that constitutional proper to profess our faith with out hindrance.”
In response to the dressing of Omirhobo, a well-liked socio-political activist, Aisha Yesufu described the Omirhobo’s outfit as a ‘juju’ priest.
Yesufu didn’t condemn Omirhobo’s gown however instructed the lawyer that it was not simply sufficient to decorate like that to the Court docket, including that he also needs to be in such apparel to marketplaces, places of work, and different public features.
In accordance with her, Muslim girls don’t simply put on the hijab to a specific place or perform however as an obligation, they observe and use it on a regular basis.
She stated: “Approach to go! He ought to gown like this not simply to courtroom sittings however to his workplace, market, public gatherings and so forth. We don’t put on the hijab often or ceremoniously.
“It’s an obligation that we observe and use on a regular basis and that’s the reason the Supreme Court docket gave that ruling!”
Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, had earlier condemned the lawyer’s behaviour, saying it isn’t solely contemptuous of the Supreme Court docket pronouncement but in addition provocative, condescending, and irreconcilable with the noble occupation of legislation.
Confirming the 24 days discover, Omirhobo wrote on his social media deal with; “I’ve simply obtained a frivolous and vexatious originating software in respect of the allegation of misconduct in opposition to me for dressing as prescribed by my faith within the train of my elementary proper to freedom of thought, conscience, and faith by Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) from the Physique of Benchers, Authorized Practitioners Disciplinary Committee. I’m to file my defence inside 24 days. – Malcolm Omirhobo.”
Within the originating software marked BB/LPDC/896/2022, despatched to LPDC, by MURIC over allegations {of professional} misconduct MURIC’s lawyer, Muhammad Aliyu, said that Omirhobo, performed himself in a fashion that’s unbecoming for a authorized practitioner which triggered disrepute and mockery to the authorized occupation and embarrassment to MURIC.
He stated “Subsequently, he (Omirhobo) shall be required to reply allegations contained within the Assertion/Affidavit which accompanies this software and such order be made because the Committee shall assume proper.’’
Sokoto Chapter of MURIC, on July 13, 2022, filed a swimsuit in opposition to Omirhobo earlier than the Sokoto Excessive Court docket over skilled misconduct.
