Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) Drags Malcolm Omirhobo To LPDC Over Controversial Dressing

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has dragged controversial Human Rights Lawyer to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) over actions of Omirhobo which MURIC stated as inappropriate and unbecoming of a lawyer.

This was disclosed in a petition before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), which was brought Pursuant to the Legal Practitioners Act, 2022 and the LPDC Rules 2020.

The petition was brought by way of an originating application dated 12th July, 2022 and sighted by The Lawyer.

In the application before LPDC, MURIC alleged that the actions of Omirhobo not only disrepute and mock the legal profession, but was an embarrassment to MURIC.

The Lawyer recalls the trending videos which made rounds on Social media, where Human rights lawyer, Omirhobo Esq was seen dressed in his traditional attire while making appearance before various Courts of different level. And Omirhobo in an interview stated that it was his fundamental right as provided in the Constitution to make an appearance before the Court dressed in his traditional attire.

He also stated that the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Lagos State government v Asiyat Abdulkareem & ors. where the Supreme Court had held that female students were allowed to wear hijab in schools in Lagos state as it was their right, had granted him license to appear dressed in his traditional attire.

The Lawyer, also made publications regarding different appearances of the lawyer in different Courts, some lawyers challenged the right of Omirhobo to appear.

It would seem the action filed by MURIC is a reaction and spinoff to these actions and manner of Malcolm Omirhobo Esq. Some of the reasons for this action by MURIC as sighted by The Lawyer may include:

*That the conduct of Malcolm Emokiniovo Omirhobo Esq. has caused serious embarrassment and disrepute to the legal profession.

• *That the statements by Omirhobo were derogatory made on the apex court justices particularly on social media.
• *That Omirhobo conducts amounted to infamous conduct under the Rules of Professional Conduct.
• *That 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.
• *That the actions of Omirhobo needed be investigated and he be sanctioned to serve as a deterrent.
• *That there is a need to protect the calibre and respect of the Justices if the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

As such, it seems that it is based on these reasons that MURIC has dragged Malcolm Omirhobo Esq to the LPDC.