Magistrate Orders Lawyer Out of Court For Appearing In Bishop’s Robe

Another drama unfolded before a Magistrate Court in Anambra State as a lawyer was ordered by a sitting Magistrate to leave her Court for adorning a Bishop’s Robe to court.

The lawyer; Goshen Abuchi Ogbachalu, argued that his dressing was in order insisting that Section 37 of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria supported his stand.

In a video posted by BarristerNG, Abuchi Ogbachalu was dressed in full Bishop’s attire – a black cassock, black cap, and white collar.

The Magistrate however refused to accommodate Mr. Ogbachalu’s dressing and subsequently ordered him to leave her Court. In her words “Mr. Ogbachalu till you are properly dressed, leave my court. I am directing you to leave my Court” the Magistrate maintained.

Responding Mr. Ogbachalu said “Your Worship I did not state that I was a lawyer, The Federal Republic of Nigeria said by virtue of the powers conferred on the Chairman of the Body of Benchers (BoB) Abuchi Goshen Ogbachalu is called as barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. I did not say so, Your Worship. Your Worship it is your Court, but the Court is also a public place and as a lawyer and a litigant, I can appear before this Court. I am here before this Court today just as an observer pending when Your Learned Brother Presides, and I was asked to leave. I want lawyers to take judicial notice.”

He cited Section 37 of the constitution and the controversial Supreme Court hijab decision which was delivered last month to maintain that he has a right to appear before any Court of competent jurisdiction in Nigeria.

Reacting the Magistrate insisted that it remained her right to order him out of her court, urging him to do whatever he wants to do.

Recall that since the Supreme Court decision on Hijab, (Lagos State government v Asiyat Abdulkareem) Ogbachalu has abandoned his wig and gown for Religious attire.

Indeed, the last of the Hijab Controversy is yet to be heard.