Lawyer Causes Stir At Supreme Court

• Attends sitting in ‘herbalist’ attire

A Lagos-based Human Rights Lawyer, Malcom Omoirhobo on Thursday caused a stir at the Supreme Court when he attended the day’s sitting fully decked in a traditional regalia representing the god of rivers, popularly referred to as “Olokun”.

It was indeed a dramatic scene with the nation’s apex Court hurriedly announcing a short break in order to address the awkward situation that brought proceedings to an abrupt end.

The Presiding Justice and other justices of the Court as well as lawyers who throng the apex Court for their cases were thrown off balance when Omoirhobo stormed the courtroom dressed in a manner he described as exercising his fundamental human rights.

Citing the recent Supreme Court’s ruling that allowed all Nigerians to express their way of worship and the use of hijab in schools and public places, the lawyer said having to express his liberty in line with that epic judgment is quite refreshing.

Arriving at the court premises at about 9:05 am, the Human rights lawyer created a scene in the when other lawyers already seated expressed surprise he was robed in traditional attire that made him look more like a herbalist.

Interestingly, Omoirhobo was quite a spectacle to behold, entering the courtroom barefooted with feathers prominently attached to his wig while also wearing a gourd as necklaces with cowries and a red wrapper tied around his waist.

His weird appearance attracted a crowd of colleagues, court workers and visitors as he resisted the mild pressure from some police officers and security guards who approached him to stay out of the Court premises, insisting that he has the right to come to the court in his traditional regalia without any harassment going the Supreme Court ruling on hijab.

Moving to avoid any untoward development at the apex Court, the Presiding Justice stopped the proceedings abruptly with the announcement that they are going for a short break.

With the Justice quickly disappearing into their chambers, it was the turn of a large crowd to gather in the courtroom to catch a glimpse of the funnily dressed lawyer with individuals’ mobile phones having a field day taking his shots from different angles.

Addressing journalists on what some of his colleagues described as a ‘weird look’, Omoirhobo said; ” I am very grateful to the Supreme court that just last week Friday, they made a very resounding decision that promotes Section 38 of the constitution.

“That is our right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. That we are free to express our way of worship in our schools and in our courts. That decision was reached on Friday and that has encouraged me. Because I am a traditionalist and this is the way I worship.

“Based on the decision of the Supreme Court, this is how I will be dressing henceforth in court because I am a strong adherent to “Olokun”, the god of rivers.”

According to him, the implication of that judgement is that all Nigerians, including doctors, Police, military, students and journalists can now wear any regalia promoting their mode of worship in public places.

Maintaining that he was not against the historic judgement, Omoirhobo said he was quite happy with the decision because it has strengthened and enriched the rights of all Nigerians as stipulated in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

Forefront recalls that the apex Court had on Friday, June 17, 2022, given its nod for female Muslim students to wear hijab to school in Lagos State.

In delivering the judgment, five of the seven members of the Court’s panel that sat on the case ruled in favour of hijab while the two remaining members had dissenting views.

The majority decision affirmed the earlier Court of Appeal’s decision which restored the use of hijab by female Muslim students in Lagos State.

The case involved the Lagos State Government as the appellant and Asiyat AbdulKareem (through her father), Moriam Oyeniyi, and the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria as the respondents.

Judge Grace Onyeabo of the Lagos State High Court had on October 17, 2014, upheld the state government’s decision to ban the use of hijab in public primary and secondary schools in the state.

But the High Court’s ruling was upturned by the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal in a unanimous judgement delivered on July 21, 2016. The court ruled that the ban on hijab in public schools in the state was discriminatory against Muslim pupils.

Displeased with the judgement, the Lagos State government attempted to obtain a stay of execution of the Court of Appeal’s decision but failed, hence the appeal that was lodged at the Supreme Court.