By Kemi Kasumu, General Editor
The DEFENDER, which tried to confirm from the Nigerian Law School management, was told by some of those who reacted to the development, which has not gone viral in the main media for reason described as disfavour to interest of the Christian-dominated print media, that the victory, if confirmed to be true will be seen as final victory for Islam and Muslims of Nigeria “who for many years have come under offensives of some Christian bigots using their influence on their members on the administration of the media to persecute members of other faith in public offices, educational institutions, hospitals etc.”
The Nigerian Law School has now accepted to call Amasa Firdaus to bar, The DEFENDER gathered on Thursday.
An Islamic page handler in Daily Independent, Mr. Rasheed Abubakar, confirmed the development shared the news on his social media platform – Facebook.
“Victory at last! The Nigerian Law School has accepted to call Amasa Firdaus to bar with her Hijab. – details shortly… The victory is not for Firdaus Amasa alone, other female law students in Hijab will not be harassed again during call to bar”, Abubakar posted.
The Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, had questioned why the Nigerian Law School should think itself bigger than the Constitution, which guarantees the religious rights of every citizen, when, according to him, more judges at all levels of courts in the country use or do not oppose hijab the institution is the only one denying female Muslims that right.
Other Islamic bodies that had spoken loud joining the voice of the Sultan on the infringement of Firdaus’ rights were the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria (MULAN), the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) and the Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN).
The Law School’s “unconstitutional” attitude became clearer as acting the script of some religious interests when, during the planned public hearing by the Federal House of Representatives, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) was seen taking the lead in matter that in no way concern Christians except, according to a respondent, “The Christian Association of Nigeria wants to tell Nigerians that it owns the Nigerian Law School and so there will be no use of hijab there in.”
It will be recalled that Association of Christian Lawyers that went to court to stop the public hearing on the Amasa Firdaus vs Nigerian Law School imbroglio by the House was said to have been instigated by CAN.
The DEFENDER, which tried unsuccessfully to confirm from the Nigerian Law School management, was told by some of those who reacted to the development, which has not gone viral in the main media for reason described as disfavour to interest of the Christian-dominated print media, that the victory, if confirmed to be true will be seen as final victory for Islam and Muslims of Nigeria.
One of them said, “Yes, it is be victory Islam and Muslims of Nigeria, who for many years, have come under attacks and psychological warfare violently staged and executed by some Christian bigots acting under the instructions of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) using their influence on their members in the Nigerian Press, particularly in Southern Nigeria, to persecute members of other Islamic faith in public offices, educational institutions, hospitals etc.”
To further get the fact behind the post, Rasheed Abubakar told The DEFENDER on phone that, “The information I posted on my Facebook wall about Amasa Firdaus going to be called to Bar in hijab in July is authentic.”
Probed further on how authentic it was, the Lagos-based journalist, who himself naturally does not subscribe to controversial or misleading news, told us that, “It was President of Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria (MULAN), Dr. Kamal Daud, that confirmed it to me.”
Don’t forget, Rasheed Abubakar said, that Dr. Kamal Daud is Associate Professor of Law at the University of Maiduguri.
It will also be recalled that while Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar was speaking as leader of the Nigerian Muslims and MURIC, MMPN, MSSN joined him in advancing the course of justice in defence of the deprived Amasa Firdaus, it was the Muslim Lawyers who were in court even as CAN-influenced attempted blockages by Christian lawyers tried hard to frustrate the efforts.
