Malcom Omoirhobo, a human rights lawyer based in Lagos, made a sensation at the Supreme Court on Thursday when he arrived dressed as an “Olokun priest” to attend court hearings.
He explained to the befuddled audience that he was exercising his fundamental human rights as a result of the Supreme Court’s decision, which permitted all Nigerians to express their religious beliefs and wear hijab in schools and other places.
He was seen barefooted with feathers attached to his wig.
He was also wearing a gourd on his necklace with cowries and a red wrapper tied around his waist.
Malcom 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.
Addressing journalists, he 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.
“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.”
Malcom said the implication of the judgement was that every Nigerian, including doctors, police, military students, and journalists, can now wear their mode of worship in public places.
It would be recalled that the Supreme Court had on Friday given approval to female Muslim students to wear hijab to school in Lagos State.
He added that he was not against the judgement 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.
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