Hijab: Court refuses to hear Omirhobo, ‘Olokun worshipper’, for improper dressing

Justice Tijani Ringim of a Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday refused to hear two cases brought before the court by human rights lawyer, Malcolm Omirhobo, who appeared before the Supreme Court last week, dressed in part like a native doctor.

The judge did not hear the lawyer apparently because he was not properly dressed as a legal practitioner is expected while making an appearance in court.

Just like he did when he appeared in the Supreme Court, Omirhobo adorned himself in a lawyer’s gown but without a pair of shoes and trousers. Instead, he walked bare-footed and in place of trousers, he tied a piece of red wrapper. His wig was festooned with two long bird feathers; his face was partly painted with white chalk that circled around his right eye area. He accessorised his dressing with gourd around his neck and cowries around his wrists as well as tied around his ankles.

“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,” Omirhobo, who said he was exercising his fundamental human right, based on the Supreme Court judgment on the wearing of hijab in public schools, had told journalists last week at the apex court premises in Abuja.

The human rights lawyer, who appeared before Justice Ringim, was greeted with resistance by some lawyers who disagreed with his dress mode, arguing that he could not be heard as he was not properly dressed as a lawyer before the court.

Omirhobo, however, fought back, saying it would be a violation of his right if he was not heard; noting that the rules could not be above the nation’s constitution.

READ: HIJAB: Supreme Court adjourns abruptly after lawyer appears dressed as native doctor

He said, “My Lord, the rules cannot supersede the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Upon his argument, Justice Ringim, however directed him to address the court on why he should be heard the way he was dressed on the next adjourned date in a suit delineated to FHC/L/CS/929/2022; (Chief Malcolm Omirhobo) sued the Federal Government of Nigeria and others.

The same happened in his second suit marked FHC/L/CS/1392/2021 against the Nigeria Army and two others before the same court, The Punch reports.

When his case was called, he announced his appearance as the applicant and some lawyers, Abdullah Dania, Mohammed Adamu and one Festus Afeyodion, told the court that he should not be heard as he was not properly robbed.

Dania said, “I am a lawyer. My Lord can imagine the way my learned friend appears before the court as a professional. The rules that govern us as a lawyer do not allow improper dressing.”

Adamu told the court that he would like to furnish the court with his written submission in line with the direction of the court.

The judge subsequently told Omirhobo that, “You cannot address the court like this as a professional. I will adjourn your matter and you come and address the court if the rules allow you to appear in court like this.”

Consequently, the judge adjourned to October 10, 2022.