Pandemonium at the Supreme Court

A human rights lawyer, Malcom Omirhobo, on Thursday, attended proceedings at the Supreme Court dressed in a traditional worshipper’s attire.

Mr Omirhobo, who appeared in court with white chalk-drawn around his right eye, had feathers stuck to his wig and cowry bracelets around his wrists.

He wore his black gown over a white inner shirt with a gourd and cowries dangling on his chest.

He tied a red wrapper around his waist as a replacement for grey trousers lawyers usually wear as part of their uniform.

The barefooted lawyer also had two yellow bell bracelets around his two ankles. The attire is for worshippers of ‘Olokun’, the god of rivers.

The lawyer said he dressed to court in that manner in exercising his fundamental human rights following the judgment of the Supreme Court that allowed every Nigerian to express their way of worship and the use of hijab in schools and public places.

 It would be recalled that the Supreme Court had on Friday ruled that female Muslim students can wear hijab to school in Lagos State.

Five out of the seven members of the court’s panel which sat on the case ruled in favour of hijab while two dissented.

Omirhobo, who arrived the court about 9:05a.m, created a scene in the court room when other lawyers who had already seated were taken by surprise to see him robed in African traditional religion attire.

The lawyer, who gained entry into the court barefooted with feathers attached to his wig, was also wearing a gourd on his neck laced with cowries and a red wrapper tied around his waist.

He dared the police officers and security guards who approached him to go out, saying that he has the right to come to the court in his traditional regalia without any harassment in line with the judgment.

 The court proceeding was abruptly stopped when the presiding Justice suddenly announced that they would be going for a short break.

Though it could not be immediately ascertained what was responsible for the short break.

The situation attracted a large crowd who thronged the court room to catch a glimpse of the lawyer, as people were seen using their mobile phones to take his picture.

Omirhobo, who addressed journalists, 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. That decision was reached on Friday and that has encouraged me.

“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 to court because I am a strong adherent of ‘Olokun’, the god of rivers.”

Omoirhobo said the implication of the judgment was that every Nigerian including doctors, police, military, students and journalists can now wear their apparel of worship to public places.

He added that he was not against the judgment rather he was happy with the decision because it strengthened and enriched the rights of all Nigerians as stipulated in the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.