Islamic Group, MURIC Petitions Nigerian Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, Seeks Punishment For Lawyer, Omirhobo For Dressing Like Juju Priest To Court 

An Islamic rights advocacy group, Muslim Rights Concerns (MURIC), has filed a petition against human rights lawyer, Malcolm Omirhobo Esq for appearing in court wearing traditional regalia.

The petition was sent to the Legal Practitioner Disciplinary Committee, LPDC, asking it to discipline the lawyer.

The group alleged that the Omirhobo’s action was in protest to the Supreme Court of Nigeria’s approval of the use of hijab in court by female Muslim lawyers.

However, Omirhobo at the time said he was only exercising his right to wear an attire that was in line with his religious belief as granted by the Supreme Court regarding the use of hijab.

This was stated in a petition written by the MURIC, Sokoto State Chapter, which claimed that Mr Omirhobo acted in a manner unbecoming of a legal practitioner, causing serious disrepute and mockery to the legal profession, particularly on social media.

The petition reads in part: The grounds upon which this complaint is predicated are as follows: The Supreme Court of Nigeria had, on June 17, 2022, in a split judgement held that female Muslim students have the right to wear their hijab in public schools.

“In protest to this judgement, Malcolm Emokiniovo Omirhobo Esq. who is a legal practitioner appeared before the Supreme Court of Nigeria a week after the judgement wearing wig and gown but barefooted, with a red cloth tied around his waist, fetish necklace, and his right eye encircled with white powder, to the extent his embarrassing conduct had to force the Supreme Court to go on recess as reported by different sections of media, see: <Breaking: Supreme Court forced into Recces as lawyer, Malcolm Omirhobo appears in Court wearing Juju Priest attire to Protest Hijab Approval <https://barristerng.com/breaking-supreme-court-forced-into-.

“Moreover, on the 27th June, 2022 Malcolm Emokiniovo Omirhobo Esq. was seen before the Federal High Court Lagos wearing the same attire. Furthermore, on the 28th June, 2022 Malcolm Emokiniovo Omirhobo Esq., was spotted on his feet in the same embarrassing dressing before the Honourable Justice Tijjani Garba while another counsel was also on his feet addressing the court on the appropriateness or otherwise of Omirhobo’s dressing.

“That the conduct of Malcolm Emokiniovo Omirhobo Esq. has caused serious embarrassment and disrepute to the legal profession considering the derogatory comments and aspersions made on the apex court justices particularly on social media. His conducts amounted to ‘infamous conduct’ under the Rules of Professional Conduct.

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“The conduct of Malcolm Emokiniovo Omirhobo Esq. is in gross violation of the f0110N,sing rules of the RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT FOR LEGAL PRACTITIONERS 2007 (RPC); Rule 1 for his inability to maintain a high standard of professional conduct and engaging in a conduct which is unbecoming of a legal practitioner; Rule 30, for conducting himself in a manner that obstructed and adversely affected proceeding before the Supreme Court; Rule 31 (1) for his failure to treat Supreme Court with respect, dignity and honour and Rule 36 (a)(b) for wearing attire in a most improper and undignified manner having worn apparel and ornament that attracted public attention to himself at the courts without decency or decorum.”

Hence, the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, of the Body of Benchers, has given Omirhobo 24 days to respond to the petition.

The 24-day notice given to Omirhobo by the LPDC was contained in a letter dated October 7, 2022.

The letter reads: “Please find enclosed a copy of Originating Application against you. By virtue of Rule 10 of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee Rules, 2020, you are to submit an affidavit disclosing a defence to the Originating Application on the merit together with all other affidavits and documents that you intend to rely on within 24 days from the date of your receipt of this letter. (Please find enclosed a copy of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee Rules, 2020).

“TAKE NOTE that you shall state your full name, Supreme Court Enrolment number, your contact address, email, phone number(s) in your response.”

“You are to produce 10 copies of your defence and forward the same to: The Secretary Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee,” the letter added.

Reacting, Omirhobo described the petition from MURIC as frivolous and against the enforcement of his fundamental human right.

“I have just received a frivolous and vexatious originating application in respect of the allegation of misconduct against me for dressing as prescribed by my religion in exercise of my fundamental right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion by Muslim Rights Concern (Muric) from the Body of Benchers, Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee. I am to file my defence within 24 days,” he said.