Re: Nigerian Lawyer Wears Traditional Worshipper’s Attire To Supreme Court

Supreme Court Ruling: Adesanya-Davies Eulogises Malcolm Omoirhobo On Wearing Of Free For All Uniforms

A frontline female politician activist, university Don and Presidential candidate of Mass Action Joint Alliance (MAJA) in 2019, Bishop Prof. Funmilayo Adesanya–Davies eulogises and congratulates Chief Malcolm Omoirhobo on his appearance and wearing of “Free For All Uniforms” at the Supreme Court session on Friday, June 23 2022.

In a report by Platforms Africa on June 23, 2022 by Abibat Babalola, It was reported, that, “A Nigerian lawyer, Malcolm Omoirhobo, on Friday caused a stir at the Supreme Court for wearing an African traditional worshipper’s attire to the court’s proceedings.…”

Adesanya-Davies exclaims, “It’s gratifying to learn that as a University lecturer, I could now wear my Bishopric clericals and other Church wears to lecture in my University lecture halls during lectures, which I have never done in all my entire almost forty years of lecturing in universities with great caution. This would now be interpreted as my freedom of expression of religious belief, same as my rest colleagues and students. Oh, Haba Father!

Omoirhobo had explained that, “He wore the clothing to court to exercise his fundamental human rights following a recent judgment by the Supreme Court which permits female Muslims to wear hijab in schools and public places.”

The Supreme Court had, on Friday, June 17, 2022, granted the use of hijab by female Muslim students in government-owned schools in Lagos. The Court issued its judgement following an appeal – Lagos State Govt. and Ors V. Asiyat AbdulKareem with suit number SC/910/16.

Chief Omoirhobo, the lawyer, who was dressed barefooted with feathers attached to his wig, and white chalk mark around one of his eyes was said to have arrived at the court at about 9:05 am. He also wore a gourd with cowries around his neck, a red wrapper tied around his waist and ‘sekeseke’ tied around his ankles, along with his legal regalia.

Addressing journalists at the court, Omoirhobo expressed his gratitude to the Supreme Court for its decision on Section 38 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which allows for the freedom of expression of religious beliefs.

He said, “I am very grateful to the Supreme Court 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 and in public places.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.”

Omoirhobo added, “that the judgement implied that every Nigerian, no matter their profession could express their religious beliefs with their mode of dressing.

Adesanya-Davies reacts, that is to say, “men and women, boys and girls of all ages, religions, tribes and professions in Nigeria could now express their religious beliefs with their mode of dressing in public places, offices, hospitals, schools, etc. I mourn the deteriorating state of the nation, Nigeria”, she added.

We all are ‘sincerely’ grateful to the Supreme Court that they made this very resounding decision that promotes Section 38 of the constitution, which is our right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. What is this! Na wah oh! Ah! Who has done this to us!

Like the Barrister’s dressing, students and teachers in all institutions of learning both in lower: nursery, primary, secondary, and higher tertiary: colleges, polytechnics and universities now have no restrictions to their dress codes and uniforms in classes and lecture rooms as long as it’s in line with their religions.”

“Oh my God! All these in the name of religion in Nigeria!”, she lamented, Jesus wept!!!

Rivers State-based lawyer, Barrister Mathew A. Abakpa has also vowed to storm the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt next week in his complete Juju attire.

Recall that the Supreme Court of Nigeria on June 18, granted the use of hijab by female Muslim students in Lagos State Government-owned schools. The apex court affirmed the July 21, 2016, judgment of the Court of Appeal, Lagos, which set aside the October 17, 2014, judgment by Justice Grace Onyeabo of the High Court of Lagos State.

The Telegraph also recalls that many schools were shut down in Kwara State in 2021 following demand by Muslims students to wear hijab in Christian-owned schools.

On February 21, the Muslim Ummah in the State warned the government not to deny the people of the State their fundamental human rights of wearing hijab, particularly in public schools in the State.

Recall also that the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba had on March 4, introduced Islamic hijab headdress for female police officers, a development which triggered backlash from concerned Nigerians, especially the Christian faithful.

The IGP, in a statement by the Force’s spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, claimed that the dress code was approved “for optimum output and professionalism”.