A human rights lawyer, Malcolm Omoirhobo, caused a stir at the Supreme Court on Thursday, after arriving at the apex temple of Justice in African traditional worship regalia for the day’s proceedings.
The lawyer, who praised the Supreme court’s last week ruling that it amounted to injury on their fundamental rights to prevent female students in public schools from wearing hijab, said he was acting in consonance with the decision by also attend the court session in his traditional religious outfit.
The Supreme Court decision was a victory for Muslim female students in Lagos, who had gone to court to press their rights to wear the traditional covering for the the head and neck regions, a code of public dressing as prescribed by their faith, in Lagos public schools.
After the court of first instance struck the move down, the promoters had approached the Court of Appeal in Lagos, which overturned the ruling, prompting the Lagos State Government, the defendant to approach the Supreme Court, which gave its final verdict on the matter.
Mr Omoirhobowho was barefooted with feathers attached to his wig, reportedly arrived at the court at about 9:05 am. He also wore a gourd with cowries around his neck and a red wrapper tied around his waist.
Speaking to newsmen after the court session, he expressed 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.
His words: “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. 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.”
