The Muslim Lawyers’ Association of
Nigeria has rejected the new directive given by the High Court of the
Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on how lawyers should dress.
Nigeria has rejected the new directive given by the High Court of the
Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on how lawyers should dress.
According to MULAN, the FCT High Court
had in a press release on March 28, 2018 “prohibited the use of any
apparel underneath wigs by lawyers and by extension the hijab by female
Muslim lawyers.”
had in a press release on March 28, 2018 “prohibited the use of any
apparel underneath wigs by lawyers and by extension the hijab by female
Muslim lawyers.”
But in a communiqué generated at the end
of its National Executive Committee meeting in Benin, Edo State, on
April 3, 2018, MULAN rejected the directive, describing it as
“unfortunate, draconian, illegal, unconstitutional and unlawful.”
In the said communiqués signed by its
President, Dr. Kamal Dawud, the body contended that the directive by the
FCT High Court was at variance with Section 38 of the constitution,
which guarantees citizens’ right to manifest their religion.
President, Dr. Kamal Dawud, the body contended that the directive by the
FCT High Court was at variance with Section 38 of the constitution,
which guarantees citizens’ right to manifest their religion.
It added that the court’s decision was
“contrary to the 2004 resolution of the Body of Benchers which allows
female Law School students and legal practitioners to use head cover
underneath their wigs.”
“contrary to the 2004 resolution of the Body of Benchers which allows
female Law School students and legal practitioners to use head cover
underneath their wigs.”
“MULAN NEC condemns the directive in the
press release in the strongest term and urges the FCT High Court to
reverse its decision contained in the press release forthwith,” the
communiqué said.
press release in the strongest term and urges the FCT High Court to
reverse its decision contained in the press release forthwith,” the
communiqué said.
The body of Muslim lawyers described as
needless the furor generated in the legal circles over the case of
Firdausa Al-Jannah Amasa, who was barred from the call to Bar ceremony
for wearing hijab.
needless the furor generated in the legal circles over the case of
Firdausa Al-Jannah Amasa, who was barred from the call to Bar ceremony
for wearing hijab.
It insisted that there was no law
prohibiting the use of hijab, adding that Section 38 of the
constitution, which guarantees the right of individuals to manifest
their religious beliefs, had “enjoyed several judicial interpretations
by superior courts to the effect that this right is inalienable provided
it does not go against public interest.”
prohibiting the use of hijab, adding that Section 38 of the
constitution, which guarantees the right of individuals to manifest
their religious beliefs, had “enjoyed several judicial interpretations
by superior courts to the effect that this right is inalienable provided
it does not go against public interest.”
“The use of Hijab in public
institutions, in particular, has enjoyed affirmative judicial
interpretation. For this reason, MULAN NEC wonders why this issue is
generating this avoidable furor especially in the echelon of justice,”
it said.
institutions, in particular, has enjoyed affirmative judicial
interpretation. For this reason, MULAN NEC wonders why this issue is
generating this avoidable furor especially in the echelon of justice,”
it said.
The body of Muslim lawyers, however,
said it had finally resolved “to design a hijab-compliant collaret with
bib for use by Muslim female legal practitioners so as to conform to the
tradition of the legal profession in Nigeria.”
said it had finally resolved “to design a hijab-compliant collaret with
bib for use by Muslim female legal practitioners so as to conform to the
tradition of the legal profession in Nigeria.”
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Meanwhile, the body said it had yet to
endorse any presidential candidate for the 2018 Nigerian Bar Association
national election.
