Akinwande Soji-Ojo
A Lagos-based human rights lawyer, Malcolm Omirhobo, caused a stir on Thursday, as he appeared at the Supreme Court dressed like a traditionalist.
The Delta State-born lawyer repeatedly disrupted proceedings when he walked into the court dressed as “half lawyer and half traditionalist.”
The lawyer put two black feathers on his wig, and drawn a white circle around his right eye.
Although dressed in a white shirt with a jabot as lawyers should, Omirhobo placed a charm around his neck hanging on a red cloth.
His black trousers, which he rolled up just below his knees, had his shirt neatly tucked into them. But he wrapped a red cloth over his waist, hiding the pants. He also wore a long black robe used by lawyers.
On entering the court, people initially scampered for safety.
When asked why he dressed to court in such manner, the lawyer said he is exercising his fundamental rights, following the recent verdict of the apex court which legalised the wearing of hijabs in Lagos State schools.
In October 2014, a Lagos High Court had ruled against the wearing of hijabs in schools, a decision that was overturned by an appellate court in July 2016.
However, in a judgement last Friday, five out of the seven-member panel of justices of the apex court held that banning the use of hijabs in Lagos schools is discriminatory.
