By: Honourable Sadiq Ibrahim Dasin
I waited until today to give my opinion on the dust raised by the refusal of the Nigerian Law School to allow Miss Amasa Firdausi attend her Call Bar because she wore Hijab to the ceremony. I was waiting for resumption of the House today to talk about it which I did when the Speaker the Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara graciously allowed debate on the matter following a motion by Hon. Dan Buram Abubakar Nuhu representing Kano Municipal Federal constituency of Kano state.
The point I made during my contribution to the debate, which is now in public domain, centred on one and only one thing, which is: what are the conditions precedent to becoming a lawyer in Nigeria? In other words, what would one do to qualify as a lawyer in Nigeria? I answered the question by saying simply that there is a law and there are also regulations governing the conditions precedent to becoming a legal practitioner in Nigeria.
THE LAW
The combined effect of Section 4 Legal Practitioners Act 1975 and Section 5 of the Legal Education (Consolidation)
1. He is a citizen of Nigeria;
2. He obtains a law degree from a recognised university within or outside Nigeria. Degrees obtained through part-time studies, long-distance learning or study as an external student is not recognised for admission to the Nigerian Law School.
3. He attends the Nigerian Law School and sits for Bar Examinations organised by the school and graduate with a minimum ‘pass’.
The combined effect of Section 4 Legal Practitioners Act 1975 and Section 5 of the Legal Education (Consolidation)
1. He is a citizen of Nigeria;
2. He obtains a law degree from a recognised university within or outside Nigeria. Degrees obtained through part-time studies, long-distance learning or study as an external student is not recognised for admission to the Nigerian Law School.
3. He attends the Nigerian Law School and sits for Bar Examinations organised by the school and graduate with a minimum ‘pass’.
As far as the law is concerned, Miss Amisa Firdausi has passed her academic training and has qualified to be a lawyer in Nigeria having graduated from the University of Ilorin and having passed her Bar examinations in the Nigerian Law School.
THE REGULATIONS
In addition to academic learning, students must undergo training on the ethics and traditions of the legal profession, such as comportment and dressing, and other non-academic rules. They must also attend three formal law dinners; two in the course of the Bar Part 2 programme and one after the Call to Bar Ceremony.
In addition to academic learning, students must undergo training on the ethics and traditions of the legal profession, such as comportment and dressing, and other non-academic rules. They must also attend three formal law dinners; two in the course of the Bar Part 2 programme and one after the Call to Bar Ceremony.
The Rule of Professional Conduct for the legal profession in Nigeria provides in Rule 6(b) that a lawyer “... should always be attired in a proper and dignified manner, and abstain from apparel or ornament calculated to attract attention to himself”.
Another regulation is The Nigeria Law School Code of Conduct Rule 29(a) which provides that a male lawyer should dress in:
- dark suits with white breast pocket handkerchiefs
- white shirts
- black ties (not bow tie)
- black socks
- black shoes
- striped black trousers may be worn under dark jackets.
- dark suits with white breast pocket handkerchiefs
- white shirts
- black ties (not bow tie)
- black socks
- black shoes
- striped black trousers may be worn under dark jackets.
Rule 2(b) of the said Code of Conduct further stipulated for female students that they should wear:
- white blouse
- dark jacket
- black skirts covering knees (dark suit)
- black shoes.
- white blouse
- dark jacket
- black skirts covering knees (dark suit)
- black shoes.
Granted that the above are the regulations, as far as I know, the Nigerian Law School Code of Conduct did not stipulate any punishment for failure to wear the specified dress. In my humble opinion, therefore, the Council of Legal education’s denial of Miss Firdausi her right to enter the venue to be called to the Bar just because she wore a Hijab, a dress not specifically banned for use at the ceremony, is a punishment not specified by any law or regulations.
To me, therefore this issue should not have taken any religious colouration where those against Firdausi were mostly Christians while those for her were Muslims as if the issue has got anything to do with one’s choice of dress for attending a ceremony. It is unfortunate that Nigerian’s penchant for bigotry has reached this level of stupidity that we interpret every mundane thing through the spectacle of religion.
The United States of America had done away with lawyers wearing the Wig and Gown since independence from Britain in 1776. But here in Nigeria, we are at war with each other in 2017 because of a mode of dressing that was introduced in England in the 17th century. In fact, even in Britain where the wearing of Wig and Gown by lawyers first came into existence, Britain’s lawyers and judges are breaking with the centuries-old tradition of wearing white-horse hair wigs to court. Since 2001 it was not necessary to appear in court with that outfit in non-criminal cases in Britain.
Nigeria has been independent since 1960 and we became a republic in 1963 and 54 years after being a republic you are here telling a young lady not to wear a dress that catches her fancy just because she wants to become a lawyer. Some of us are living in the past.
Honourable Sadiq Ibrahim Dasin
Member House of Representatives
Representing Fufore/Song, Adamawa State
Member House of Representatives
Representing Fufore/Song, Adamawa State
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