Human Right lawyer, Chief Malcolm Omirhobo, has sued the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, and two others at the Federal High Court, Lagos, over approval of Hijab as part of the official dress code for Nigerian female police officers.
 
Joined in the suit are Nigeria government and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami.
In an orginating summon, Omirhobo asked whether by the true combined interpretation and/or construction of Sections 1(1)(3), 10, 214 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, it is proper, legal, lawful and constitutional for the 1st defendant (Baba) with the tacit support of the 2nd defendant (Nigeria government) and 3rd defendant (Malami), to use public funds to approve, produce, issue and distribute to Nigerian female police officers throughout Nigeria Hijab for use as part of their official dress code while on duty?
 
He also asked the court if the defendants approval of Hijab as part of the official dress code for female police officers does not amount to adoption of Islam as State religion in Nigeria, and therefore, a flagrant violation of Sections 1(1)(3), 10, 214 of the 1999 Constitution.
 
In a 60-paragraph affidavit in support of the originating summon, Omirhobo said that the new dress code was unveiled at the 1st defendant’s (Baba) meeting with Strategic Police Managers on March 3, 2022. He said: “The wearing of Hijab by the Nigerian police, gives the world and Nigerians the impression that Nigeria is an Islamic country.
 
“By the Nigerian Constitution, the 2nd defendant or any State Government in Nigeria shall not adopt any religion as State religion.
   
“By virtue of Section 10 of the 1999 Constitution, Nigeria is a secular State and not an Islamic State.” He stressed that the use of Hijab is a breach of Section 10 and 42(1)(a)(b) of the Constitution.
 
Omirhobo prayed the court to declare that by the true interpretation and/or construction of Section 10 of the Constitution, it is improper, illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional for the 1st defendant (Baba) with the tacit support of the 2nd and 3rd defendants to use public funds to approve, produce, issue and distribute to Nigerian female police officers Hijab for use as part of their official dress code while on duty.
 
He also wants the court to declare that the defendants’ approval of Hijab as part of the official dress code for Nigerian female police officers amounts to the adoption of Islam as State religion in Nigeria and therefore a flagrant violation of Section 10 of the Constitution.
 
Omirhobo wants an order of the court annulling and cancelling the use of Hijab as part of the official dress code for female Nigerian police officers for being in variance and inconsistent with the provisions of Sections 1(1)(3), 10, 42(1)(a)(b) and 214 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria and therefore improper, illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.
 
He also wants an order of the court compelling the defendants to stop forthwith the production, issuance, distribution and use of Hijab as part of the official dress code for Nigerian female police officers.