The Muslim Right Concern, MURIC, has petitioned the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, LPDC, over alleged “infamous conduct and actions unbecoming of a legal practitioner” by a controversial lawyer Malcolm Omirhobo.
Mr Omirhobo had caused a stir when he appeared before the Supreme Court, following its June 17 verdict that allows the use of Hijab by female Muslim students of Lagos State.
In protest against the apex court judgment, Mr Omirhobo appeared in the court as a traditionalist.
The lawyer however justified his action, saying he appeared in that dress because he was a traditionalist.
“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. I am a traditionalist and this is the way I worship,” he told journalists.
But MURIC in a petition by Sokoto chapter chairman, Muhammad Mansur Aliyu, said Mr Omirhobo’s action contravenes Rules 1, 30, 31(1) 36(a)(b) of professional conduct for legal practitioners 2007.
Mr Aliyu added that the lawyer’s conduct had caused a serious embarrassment and disrepute to the legal profession, especially on social media.
“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.
“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 dress 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.
“The conduct of Malcolm Emokiniovo Omirhobo Esq. is in gross violation of the following 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,” he concluded.
