Malcom Omoirhobo, a Lagos-based civil rights lawyer, caused a ruckus before the Supreme Court in Abuja on Thursday by dressing as a Juju priest to a court hearing.
Malcom joined the ceremonies dressed in the garb of ‘Olokun,’ the monarch of all water bodies as well as other water deities.
The Nigerian lawyer stated that he dressed in such fashion to exert his fundamental human right protected by the Nigerian constitution.
His action is in line with the Supreme Court’s injunction that permits all Nigerians to exercise their freedom of worship/religion and the use of hijab in schools and other places.
When the lawyer arrived in court at 9:00 a.m, the lawyers already sitting were taken aback to discover one of their colleagues dressed in the unusual garb.
The human rights lawyer stepped into court barefoot, his wig adorned with feathers.
A gourd strung with cowries hung from his neck, and a red wrapping was knotted around his waist.
He challenged the policemen and security officers who challenged him to leave the court.
Unfortunately, the court proceedings came to an abrupt halt when the Presiding Justice declared that he would be taking a short break. The Judge made no mention of the lawyer’s appearance.
The incident, on the other hand, drew a large crowd, who flocked to the courthouse to catch a glimpse of the lawyer.
Why did the lawyer dress up as a juju high priest (babalawo) for court?
Last Friday, the Supreme Court granted permission for female Muslim pupils in Lagos State to wear hijab to school.
Five of the seven members of the court’s panel who heard the issue ruled in favour of the hijab, while the other two dissented.
Chief Omoirhobo claimed that he has the right to appear in court in his regalia without fear of harassment under the ruling, which also enables the wearing of hijab in schools and public places.
According to Omoirhobo, the ruling means that every Nigerian, including physicians, police and military officers, students, and journalists, can now dress according to their manner of worship in public spaces.
He stated that he was not opposed to the judgment, but rather that it reinforces and strengthens the rights of all Nigerians as established in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.
The majority ruling upheld an earlier Court of Appeal decision that reinstated hijab wear by female Muslim students in the state.
The appellant in the case was the Lagos State Government, and the respondents were Asiyat AbdulKareem (via her dad), Moriam Oyeniyi, and the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria.