Six law students of the Faculty of Law in Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto have sued the president and the executives of Law Students Society(LSS) at the High Court of LSS over constitutional interpretation bordering on dress code.
According to the processes filled by the plaintiffs who included Abdulkareem Mubarak, Abdulrahman Ibrahim; Olayiwola Ridwan, Bakare Hakeem, Issa Islamiyah and Shereefdeen Ahmad, the student lawyers seek for an order to compel the LSS executives(the defendants) to strictly abide by the exact and accurate interpretation of the provision of section 100 subsection four of the LSS Constitution.
“Formal dressing shall means in case of male member, a dressing combination of a suit and white shirt with a black tie, or a full traditional attires while for females member it shall mean, a dressing combination with white shirt, black long skirt, black shoe or a black gown or a full length traditional attires with a veil or complete hijab,” the section reads.
The plaintiffs also sought for a declaration from the court that acquiring the LSS constitution by law students is a right and not a privilege.
The case is scheduled to commence on Friday, 26th May 2023 at the Faculty Moot Court by 3:00pm.
The Back Story
On 15th May, the LSS executives, relying on
Part v, Section 100 (2)(3) and (4) of the LSS Constitution, released a circular concerning the prescribed dress code for law students.
“It shall be obligatory on each member of the Society to dress in accordance with the ethics of the Profession on every Monday to Thursdays’. And in S. 100 (3), the section further explains,”the circular reads in part.
“Formal dressing shall mean in the case of male member, a dressing combination of a suit and white shirt with a black tie, or a full traditional attire. While for female members, it shall mean, a dressing combination with white shirt, black long skirt, black shoe or a black gown or a full traditional attire with a veil or complete hijab.”
“Thus, the LSS wishes to notify, appeal and solicit all Law students, that the observance of the above said directives shall take effect from 15/5/2023.”
Meanwhile, the LSS subsequently released another circular to reinterpret the provision of subsection four which includes traditional attire.
“However, to clear the Air, the interpretation is that “only White and Black is allowed From Monday to Thursday, Meanwhile the Traditional Attire is optional on Friday.”
The student lawyers believed that going by the wordings of the provision, traditional attire is not optional on Friday only, but also includes other days of the week.
Therefore, the plaintiffs, who are all 300-level students of the faculty, approached the court to challenge the interpretation of the subsection and also claim their right over acquisition of the copy of the LSS Constitution which was denied to be granted to them.
Speaking with the lead counsel for the plaintiffs, Abdulkareem Mubarak said the purpose of the trial is aimed at improving their practical knowledge of the law.
“The mooting is basically to improve our practice knowledge of the law.”