frankmoney:
if NBA says hijabs are not allowed then don't bring religious sentiments into it . Shikina

TVTKOKO:
you don't say 'people'. You say Nigerians.,!
And why do you think we remain the way we are?
When you don't care the consequences of a particular action as long as it doesn't affect your religion?
Nigeria would remain backwards until it's people learn to leave their religion out of the way of sustainable development.

Mynd44:

The day you stop putting this as Islam Vs Law School, that is when you will be able to think objectively.

As long as you do not see it as a movement to totally review the laws of the school and totally remove the dresscode completely but for them to allow hijab, you will be dancing around in circles.

maasoap:

Who are the sentimental people here, pro hijab or anti- hijab? Just asking because the two sides are sentimental here. And again, I'm pro hijab here, and I wasn't quiet on the issue of Kayode Bello. In fact, I was enraged just like many other Nigerians. Abeg, shift!

shams040:
All I knw is, she will win and Hijab wearing will be legalized.

Am sure if wig wearing was from Islam dey wld av tagged it as a means of Islamizing d nation.

khristal87:
I think u re confused. Go back n read ur ist comment n be more logical.

musa234:
Even as a Muslim, I think she has herself to blame, she knew what the law school entails, their act, their mode of dressing and conduct, she just played herself, religion has done us more harm than good, no wonder we are so backwards in terms of development.

Bari22:
If going naked is your right, please understand that covering is the right of a Muslim woman.

Fact

biacan:
No one is stop the Muslim woman from covering her body but she must respect the law

Quality20:
d write up is riddled with lots of personal emotions of d writer. Next time pls do a better one by keeping ur emotions and convictions in check

Mynd44:

I am in support of the total removal of the dress code. It is useless and pointless amd the entire law school needs a revamp.

But to allow hijab and leave the other silly laws is just crazy

Bari22:
If going naked is your right, please understand that covering is the right of a Muslim woman.

Fact

Olabenjamen22:


just answer this simple question.

Is wig wearing relate to any religion? Or why are you people pain in the head.

elhafeez:

I am à Muslim. I shake hands with ladies. I have attend parties. some people call me party machine. i have drank smoke and done what islam said i shouldnt do. They call me social ustaz. I pray 5 times daily. i do things i like. someone trying to cover her hair is being abused. Am not putting this as islam over law school
What has the lady done. Technically she is not on Hijab because she would have put the Hijab on thé gown bib and suit. loo@melissasuzannehk at the lady carefully. she smartly covered her hair and ear. That is what only make her different from others. If you dont look closely you wouldnt even notice her.
She is smartly dressed and she looks decent. thats the most important thing.
Just last week i saw à lawyer on dreadlock in à south african supreme court. In britain or america lawyers dont even wear gown or wig. they dress smartly to court and do their job.
We are Just making à mountain out of à môle

biacan:
The president daughter was been called to bar and she removed her Hijab.....tell me is fidaus more religious than her.....or did the president daughter disrespect her religion....?

Mynd44:

The day you stop putting this as Islam Vs Law School, that is when you will be able to think objectively.

As long as you do not see it as a movement to totally review the laws of the school and totally remove the dresscode completely but for them to allow hijab, you will be dancing around in circles.

Bari22:
If going naked is your right, please understand that covering is the right of a Muslim woman.

Fact

Shafiiimran99:
Who made the law?

Rogosa:


They should allow crucifiex too and sango red attire.

ALAWADA!

Aseneshii:
The level of intolerance in this country is just amazing, Is it that small scarf they called hijab? How does that affect anyone , the wig she wore is even more visible than the hijab.

Bari22:


You don't have that power, Christians can move unclad as u used to do. But you can't dictate to us, we have power and we will use it wisely

maasoap:

He was telling you to understand that some things make sense while some don't. He was simply telling you to make sense with your arguments.

olarid01:


Believe bro, if you talk Like this, Walai, you don't really know what Islam is. Please do take your ibadah more seriously and seek more knowledge about your religion so you don't keep making this kind of erroneous assertion.

Mynd44:

I am in support of the total removal of the dress code. It is useless and pointless amd the entire law school needs a revamp.

But to allow hijab and leave the other silly laws is just crazy

biacan:
The president daughter was been called to bar and she removed her Hijab.....tell me is fidaus more religious than her.....or did the president daughter disrespect her religion....?

frankmoney:
we are in a secular state not an Islamic state , so she has no right

eyinjuege:


I agree with you.
Remove the dress code.
Let the nuns, the hijabites, the jews and othera be free to express themselves. Provided they're dressed neatly and smartly.

onegig:
This writer seems silly. Every dick and harry calling themselves activists when all they do is write dumb articles without understanding the basic tenents of what activism is all about. Where was he when Kayode was been bullied by the law school?

He even looked comical stating that celestial church members should be allowed to not wear shoes for the call to bar. That is like comparing oranges to apples. Which exposes his lack of understanding of the issue. The hijab is an everyday wear for a Muslim woman and is to be adorned "everytime and everywhere" and not a ceremonial "I am going to my place of worship" once in a week thing. That is a huge difference. At least before you write an article get your basic facts right.


As regards the Firduas issue.

This should not be seen as a religious call but more of basic rights of a Nigerian. The Constitution which supercedes any useless laws/codes of the Law school geants the right to practice of religion in public and private without hindrance or fear to all citizens.

And by the way at what point would we stop dictating what people wear or not wear?

Women were not allowed to wear trousers in the US Congress not until 1963.

Women are not allowed to vote in most countries until recently.

Even till today women are not allowed to own properties in some places.

Women are not allowed to drive until recently in many countries and till now women are dictated to whether they should cover their hair or not for a 2 hour call to bar ceremony. Like wtf.

Of what Importance is the wig? Even the UK that we got it from is discarding that clownish thing and here we are carrying it on our head like a bag of kulikuli.

Set what ever uniform you want to set but people are allowed freedom to do whatever they want with other apparels same way you have graduation gowns and people wear whatever they want underneath it. Maybe when we start understanding what diversity means we would learn not to Lord over people who are different from us and dissipate more energy on simple things that just a mere application of commonsense would sort out.

I am sure she would sue them and I can bet 100% she would win it. Except the law school can prove they are not infringing on her universal rights to practice her religion.

maasoap:

Why must a Muslim girl remove her hijab before she can practise law in Nigeria? Is there anything offensive about it?

Mynd44:

I am in support of the total removal of the dress code. It is useless and pointless amd the entire law school needs a revamp.

But to allow hijab and leave the other silly laws is just crazy

in Nigeria, the Rule of Professional Conduct for the legal profession Rule 6(b) provides;

While the court is in session, a lawyer should not assume an undignified posture, and should not, without the judge’s permission, remove his wig and gown in the courtroom. He should always be attired in a proper and dignified manner, and abstain from apparel or ornament calculated to attract attention to himself.

From the clear wordings of the above Rules of Professional Conduct, it is clear that no particular dress code was specified by the Rules. The Rules appear to have been lifted in Toto from the Code of Conduct of England and Wales which never spelt out what a Barrister’s dress code should be; it only stated “Respectable dress”.

The Nigeria Council of Legal Education on its establishment has tried to spell out in clear terms, what the dress code of lawyers should be like. The Nigeria Law School Code of Conduct Rule 29(a) provides:

He should be well-dressed at all times. The regulation on dress for male students is dark suits, white shirts, black ties (not bow tie), black socks and black shoes with white breast pocket, handkerchiefs, and striped black trousers may be worn under dark jackets Rule 2(b) of the said Code of Conduct further stipulated the dressing code for females as: For female students, white blouse, dark jacket and black skirts, covering knees (dark suit) or dark ladies and black shoes are to be worn. There should be no embroidery and trimmings of any type, and only moderate jewellery.

A look at the rule of professional conduct for legal practitioner (The Rules) 2007 will show rule 36 stipulates that:
(1) Except with the permission of the Court, a lawyer appearing before a High Court, the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court shall do so in his robes.
(2) A lawyer shall not wear the Barrister’s or Senior Advocate’s robe —–
(a) on any occasion other than in Court except as may be directed or permitted by the bar Council; or
(b) When conducting his own case as party to a legal proceeding in Court; or
(c) When giving evidence in a legal proceeding in Court.

The Nigerian Law School Code of Conduct, further stated in Rule 2(b), that at all law dinners, students must be punctual, and be in regulation dress; it further stated that at call to bar ceremonies, qualified students must wear regulation dress and also the Wig, Winged collar and Bids or Collarette and Barristers’ Gown. Finally, the rule concluded by stating that the above mode of dressing is mandatory for both male and female, while at the law school and other extra curricula activities, and when called to the Bar, and attendance at magistrate and all superior courts.

From all indications, it is clear that the above cited Code of Conduct of the Nigerian Law School legally institutionalized the use of dress code in the legal profession in Nigeria.
There was an instance where a judge refused to hear out a female lawyer because she was putting on a bright coloured blouse under her gown. Does this denial of appearance not amount to a infringement of her client’s right to fair hearing?

It is noteworthy that the Nigerian Law School Code of Conduct did not stipulate any punishment for non conformity with the Code.

Firstly, it should be noted, right away, that in England wig and gown are still being retained because they distinguish a barrister from a solicitor; the former is entitled to appear in court fully robed while a solicitor does not enjoy such privilege. Secondly, the protagonists of the retention of wig and gown in England also argue that it suits the climatic condition of England and Wales. Thirdly, they argue that it confers dignity and solemnity on court proceedings. Fourthly, wigs according to them lend anonymity in highly charged criminal cases.

Finally, they claim that it obscures the differences of age and gender, and consequently serves as equalizer in a profession dominated by men.

In Nigeria, the first and second reasons do not apply because every legal practitioner, by virtue of being called to the Bar, is an advocate and solicitor of Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Therefore, here in Nigeria, the need for the wig and gown to distinguish the ‘barrister’ from ‘solicitor’ does not arise. Secondly, the climatic condition in Nigeria does not need to be further compounded with English dress code and its other paraphernalia. It is interesting to note that already in England, there have been several moves in the past to do away with the lawyer’s wig and gown.