A human rights lawyer, Malcolm Omoirhobo, on Thursday, stirred public opinion as he stormed the Supreme Court wearing an African traditional worshippers’ attire to the court’s proceedings.
The lawyer, who was barefooted with feathers attached to his wig and wore a gourd with cowries around his neck and a red wrapper tied around his waist arrived at the court at about 9:05 am.
Omoirhobo who addressed the press on Thursday said he dressed to court in his traditional attire to exercise his fundamental human rights.
He explained that the dressing was in accordance with a recent judgment by the Supreme Court which permits all Nigerians to express their way of worship and the use of hijab in schools and public places.
The New Diplomat reports that the development comes after the supreme court ruled that Muslim students can wear hijab to schools in Lagos.
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.
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.
In 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.”
