Some Muslim groups have expressed disappointed over what they described as last minute postponement of the public hearing on the Hijab crisis involving a University of Ilorin Law graduate, Firdaus Amasa, Body of Benchers and Nigerian Law School by Joint Committee on Justice and Judiciary of the House of Representatives on Monday, a day to the event.
The coalition under the auspices of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) after its meeting held in Abuja while reviewing the Hijab controversy wondered why โthe 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.
โOf particular importance is Sister Firdausa Amasa โ the victim and subject of the controversy โ who had earlier received an invitation letter from the Joint Committeeโ.
The groups in a communique signed by Ustaz Isa Christian Okonkwo, Director of Administration, NSCIA a copy of which was made available to newsmen Tuesday evening, said that the inconveniences caused by the sudden change of schedule for the stakeholders from across Nigeria are unimaginable.
The coalition after the meeting attended by representatives of NSCIA, FOMWAN, MSSN, MUSWEN, MULAN, MMPN, MURIC, MICA, Women in Daโwah, Coalition of Muslim Women Organisations, Abuja Muslim Forum, FCT League of Imams, Association of Muslim Professionals, Justice for Fidaus Advocacy Group, Harakatul Islaami, Ilorin, Kwara Muslim Youths, The Criterion, Al-Muโminaat, Women โUlamaaโ of Zamfara, Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Organisation of Tadhamunul Muslimeen, I-World-Connect Media, Pious Muslim Women Organisation and Islamic Family Foundation, rejected โin its totality the reason advanced by the Joint Committee for the postponement.โ
โThe 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 โcritical stakeholdersโ. We believe we are all equal stakeholders because equality before the law is one of the critical elements of the rule of lawโ.
They argued that โMuslims 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.
โThe 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 informedโ.
The coalition however โcalls on all Muslims and other stakeholders to remain calm and await further directives on the matterโ.
