Law School/Firdaus Amasa: Reps Panel aligning with some “stakeholders” to deny Muslims their rights in Nigeria – Coalition of Muslims Organisations raises alarm

*Rejects reason advanced for Hijab public hearing postponement

*Says postponement on reason of ‘critical stakeholders’ iniquitous

A coalition of Muslim Organisations in Nigeria under the auspices of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) rose from a meeting in Abuja on Monday February 5, 2018 and among other points expressed disappointment over the Committee on Justice of House of Representatives’ last minute postponement of public hearing on hijab controversy between the body of benchers/Nigerian Law School and Firdaus Amasa.

It also lambasted the lawmaking body for failing to even contact stakeholders who submitted memoranda on the issue before publicly announcing the postponement.

In a communiqué issued after the meeting and signed by Ustaz Isa Christian Okonkwo, who is Director of Administration of the NSCIA, the coalition of Muslim organisations comprising of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Muslims Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Muslim Ummah of South West of Nigeria (MUSWEN), said it met to review the issue of infringement on the rights of Firdaus, a University of Ilorin law graduate, who was denied to be called to the Nigerian Bar simply because she put on hijab.

Also involved in the coalition include Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria (MULAN), Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN), MICA, Women in Da’wah, Coalition of Muslim Women Organisations, Abuja Muslim Forum, FCT League of Imams, Association of Muslim Professionals, Justice for Firdaus Advocacy Group, Harakatul Islaami Ilorin, Kwara Muslim Youths, The Criterion and Al-Mu’minaat.

Others are, Women ‘Ulamaa’ of Zamfara, Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Organisation of Tadhamunul Muslimeen, I-World-Connect Media, Pious Muslim Women Organisation and Islamic Family Foundation.

According to the communiqué, the coalition came with resolutions ventilating its dismay about the handling of the matter by the lawmakers saying that:

“The coalition is disappointed over the last minute postponement of the public hearing on Monday, 5th February, 2018 just a day to the event that was scheduled over a month earlier. The inconveniences caused by the sudden change of schedule that many stakeholders from across Nigeria have to bear are unimaginable;

“The coalition is dismayed that the Joint Committee did not deem it fit to contact stakeholders who had submitted memoranda to the Committee prior to the public announcement of the postponement as published in the Punch newspaper of Monday, 5th February, 2018. Of particular importance is Sister Firdausa Amasa – the victim and subject of the controversy – who had earlier received an invitation letter from the Joint Committee;

“The coalition rejects in its totality the reason advanced by the Joint Committee for the postponement. The excuse, therefore, rubbishes the deadline earlier given by the Joint Committee and proves that some stakeholders are above its rules and are, therefore, more important than others. Hence they are identified as “critical stakeholders”. We believe we are all equal stakeholders because equality before the law is one of the critical elements of the rule of law;

“Muslims are not unaware of the efforts by some stakeholders to frustrate the cause of justice and, therefore, are determined not to rest until their right is recognised and guaranteed;

“The Joint Committee, as representatives of the people, should, in the spirit of equity, fairness  and justice, ensure that the public hearing holds as soon as possible while stakeholders are duly informed and that

“The coalition calls on all Muslims and other stakeholders to remain calm and await further directives on the matter.”