Following the recent approval by the Supreme Court to allow
female Muslim students to wear hijab in public schools, a Rivers State-based
lawyer, Barrister Mathew A. Abakpa has vowed to storm the Federal High Court,
Port Harcourt next week in his complete Juju attire.
Recall that the Supreme Court of Nigeria on June 18, granted
the use of hijab by female Muslim students in Lagos State Government-owned
schools.
The apex court affirmed the July 21, 2016, judgment of the
Court of Appeal, Lagos, which set aside the October 17, 2014, judgment by
Justice Grace Onyeabo of the High Court of Lagos State.
Recall also that many schools were shut down in
Kwara State in 2021 following demand by Muslims students to wear hijab in
Christian-owned schools.
On February 21, the Muslim Ummah in the State warned the
government not to deny the people of the State their fundamental human rights
of wearing hijab, particularly in public schools in the State.
Recall also that the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba
had on March 4, introduced Islamic hijab headdress for female police officers,
a development which triggered backlash from concerned Nigerians, especially the
Christian faithful.
The IGP, in a statement by the Force’s spokesman, Olumuyiwa
Adejobi, claimed that the dress code was approved “for optimum output and
professionalism”.
Following the developments, a Lagos State-based lawyer,
Malcom Omoirhobo stormed the Supreme court in Abuja on Thursday wearing a
traditional attire, appearing like ‘Olokun priest’.
He told journalists that his choice of dress was fueled by
the Supreme Court ruling, which according to him, allows Nigerians to appear in
public places with their traditional wears.
He vowed that since the apex court allows hijab for female
students, his children would also appear at school in their traditional wears.
Similarly, Barrister Abakpa, a fiery human rights lawyer, in
Port Harcourt said the Supreme Court’s decision should be extended to other
religions in the country, stressing that “what is good for the goose is good
for the gander also”.
Speaking on Thursday, Abakpa accused the
Federal Government of plotting to Islamize Nigeria by making Islam an official
religion.
According to him, section 10 of the Nigerian Constitution
forbids the government from making such moves.
He said, “I will appear in my full juju attire in the
Federal High Court next week. The Supreme Court of Nigeria has held that it is
the fundamental right of Nigerians to appear in their religious attire to
schools and other public places in Nigeria, irrespective of the dress code
prescribed or approved by the authority.
“Nigeria is a circular State. What is good for the goose is
good for the gander also.
“It appears that the decision of the Supreme Court is likely
to make Islam an official religion contrary to section 10 of the constitution
which forbids the government of Nigeria from adopting any religion.
“By the time all religious faithful, including pagans and
Christians begin to showcase their religion by appearing in their religious
attires in public institutions like courts and schools, even in the military
and the police, the government, especially the Supreme Court will then realize
that they have erred in their decision to allow hijab in schools, including the
Nigerian law school”.
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com