Malcolm Omirhobo, a human rights activist and lawyer, who caused a stir by repeatedly dressing as a traditionalist while appearing in court, has replied the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), saying he is not a religious bigot.
MURIC had about two weeks ago berated Omirhobo for displaying a “behaviour contemptuous of the Supreme Court pronouncement”. The Supreme Court’s judgment favoured Lagos schools’ Muslim students’ voluntary use of hijab — a verdict Omirhobo seemed displeased with.
MURIC, through a statement by its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, also said Omirhobo’s behaviour is “provocative, condescending and irreconcilable with the noble profession of law”.
This news medium reported that the legal practitioner asked MURIC to retract its statement or face legal action. MURIC ignored his threat.
But in a fresh message on Monday morning, Omirhobo insisted that MURIC was wrong with the picture painted of him.
He claimed that his grandfather is a devout Muslim from Syria, and he also had a Muslim fiancee.
“I have seen and read the criminal libelous statements made by Muslim Rights Concerns (MURIC) through its founder and chairman board of trustees, Professor Ishaq Akintola, against my person in a publication title “Islamic group react as lawyer, Omirhobo dresses like juju priest to supreme court” published by John Owen Nwachukwu in the Daily Post Newspaper and other National dallies and awash in the social media . For the records , I find it imperative to respond,” Omirhobo said via his known Facebook page.
“Contrary to assertions of MURIC , I do not hate Islam or any religion and I am not a religious bigot. I respect Islam and other religion and will never commit blasphemy because I know that it is not only wrong and disrespectful to do so but that it is also a criminal offence .
“Muhammed Zabadne, a devoted Muslim from Damascus Syria is my grand father . My junior brother Akpofure Omirhobo attended a Muslim school , Jubril Martins Secondary School Iporin , Lagos State and my Dad and our entire family were cool with him reciting Al-Fatiha . I had a Muslim fiancee from Michika, Adamawa State and I visit her home town three times but for distance the relationship packed up. I have Muslims as my employees , good friends and neighbours so how can I hate Islam?
“I find it hard to believe that a person of professor Ishaq Akintola standing can condescend so low to deliberately assassinate my character by causing the wild dissemination of criminal libelous statements against me knowing too well that such statements are false and malicious .
“It is sad and regrettable that just to score cheep points professor Ishaq could throw caution to wind by making libelous statements about me calculated to lower me in the estimation of right thinking members of the Muslim society so as to exposed me to hatred, ridicule, odium, scorn, contempt and unlawful violent.
“It is evil and devilish for Muric to. via the said publication deliberately incite and instigate the Muslims against my person and to provoke a breach of public peace in the already heated polity.”
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