National integration can solve most of Nigeria’s problems —Muslim lawyers’ association

The Muslim Lawyers’ Association of Nigeria (MULAN) has underscored the need to forge a common identity among Nigerians as an important component of the quest to address most of the problems bedevilling the country.

The association called for robust, visionary and proactive leadership to drive the “much needed” integration.

In a communiqué after its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Benin, Edo State, MULAN said African countries such as Tanzania had overcome problems similar to Nigeria’s by successfully applying the concept of national integration through the promotion of common language, improvement of educational curriculum by teaching the history of the country from primary school and equitable allocation and distribution of national resources.

In the communiqué, signed by its President, Dr Kamal Dawud, the association condemned statements by politicians and other personalities which, it said, are capable of pitching Nigerians against the military.

The association particularly described a statement credited to a former Chief of Army Staff, General T. Y. Danjuma (rtd), which claimed that the military was complicit in the various killings in the country as a security threat.

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The association wondered why the use of hijab in public institutions has continued to generate “avoidable furore,” especially in the echelon of justice when, according to the association, the Nigerian constitution guarantees every Nigerian the right to manifest their religion.

“This constitutional provision has enjoyed several judicial interpretations by superior courts to the effect that this right is inalienable provided it does not go against public interest. The use of hijab in public institutions in particular has enjoyed affirmative judicial interpretation. For this reason, MULAN NEC wonders why this issue is generating this avoidable furore, especially in the echelon of justice.

“MULAN NEC, therefore supports the use of hijab by female Muslims in the Nigerian Law School, call to the Nigerian Bar and by female legal practitioners, judges and justices, in accordance with the provisions of Section 38 [of the 1999 Constitution].

“In view of this, MULAN NEC has resolved to design a hijab-compliant collaret with bib for use by Muslim female legal practitioners so as to conform to the tradition of the legal profession in Nigeria,” the association said.

It said a press release by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, recognising the use of certain outfit for lawyers who will be appearing in all the High Courts of FCT directly prohibits the use of any apparel underneath wigs by lawyers and by extension the hijab by female Muslim lawyers.

MULAN observed that the directive ran contrary to the 2004 resolution of the Body of Benchers which, according to it, allows female Law School students and legal practitioners to use head cover underneath their wigs.

“On this ground and by the provisions of Section 38 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, this directive is unfortunate, draconian, illegal, unconstitutional and unlawful.

“MULAN NEC condemns the directive in the press release in the strongest term and urges the FCT High Court to reverse its decision contained in the press release forthwith,” it added.

On the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) elections this year, the communiqué stressed that the leadership of MULAN had not yet endorsed any candidate for the National President’s position and that the association would soon constitute a committee that would be saddled with the responsibility of screening all persons seeking election into all NBA national offices with a view to having consensus candidates.

According to the communiqué, the 2018 Annual General Conference of the association will be held in Kano, Kano State, in the last week of June in compliance with the constitution of the association.

MULAN commended the Federal Government for the safe return of 104 Dapchi schoolgirls who were abducted by Boko Haram and urged the government to use every means available to it to secure the release Leah Sharibu, the only Dapchi girl still in captivity.

It criticised the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for turning the kidnap of the girls to a religious issue and blaming the Federal Government for not ensuring the release of Leah because she is a Christian.

MULAN said it observed that Muslims in Tafawa Balewa township of Bauchi State had been displaced for so long and no mosques were now standing in the town as all they had either been burnt or demolished.

It urged the Federal Government to look into “this human right abuse” and restore normalcy to the town.

Pursuant to a recent media report to the effect that 87 per cent of prison inmates all over the country were awaiting trial inmates, MULAN directed each state branch to, within one month, conduct visitation to prisons in their states to take statistics of awaiting trial inmates, irrespective of their gender, religion or tribe, and report their findings to the national officers of the association.

“The national officers will thereafter take necessary steps to ensure that these awaiting trial inmates will henceforth have requisite legal representations by members of the association,” it said.

The Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice E. F. Ikponmwen, who chaired the opening ceremony of the meeting, commended Muslim lawyers for coming together under one umbrella of MULAN to speak with one voice, pursue and achieve laudable goals.

Justice Ikponmwen, who was represented by Justice V. O. A. Oviawe, advised the association to be more united in their struggle to entrench justice and rule of law in the country.