Controversies surrounding the decision of Amasa Firdaus, a Law graduate to adorn hijab, an Islamic form of head cover for female during her Call-to-Bar ceremony finally came to a joyful end on Tuesday for the young lawyer as she was finally called to Bar wearing the hijab under the legal wig.
Firdaus stirred controversy December last year when she insisted on wearing her hijab during the Call-to-Bar celebration, a decision the Council for Legal Education kicked against.
In a list of the new lawyers called to the Nigerian bar by the Council for Legal Education on Tuesday morning, Amasa name appeared on number 788 in the new list.
She was denied access into the hall for the ceremony which took place at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, for refusing to remove her hijab thereby generating controversies.
She had described the action as “a violation of her rights, adding the hijab does not violate the dress code set by the law school but was a mere convention that the British gave to us and we have to stick to it.”
Islamic bodies, including the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), had supported her, calling for a review of the dress code.
Firdaus gained popularity after the incident after divergent opinions and court actions trailed her denial access to the ceremony.
Bashir Ahmad, Personal Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on New Media and Engagement Unit, has congratulated her on Twitter.
He posted a photo of Amasa with her hijab and wig and wrote:
“Congratulations BARRISTER Amasa Firdaus who was called to bar today with her Hijab. That didn’t come so easy, her victory is one of the many good advantages of Social Media. She fought not only for herself but for the generation to come. History will surely be kind to her.”