Nigerian lawyer's niqab-wearing Call to Bar photos spark public discussion
A newly called Nigerian barrister's Call to Bar photos, showing her wearing a niqab together with traditional legal attire, went viral in mid-2026 — though no professional body has confirmed that she is the first.
Barrister Rodiyah Omotoyosi Mikhail was called to the Nigerian Bar in September 2025 as part of a cohort of 6,009 new lawyers during a Body of Benchers ceremony. Photographs from her Call to Bar ceremony, showing her wearing traditional legal attire together with a black niqab covering her face except for her eyes, began circulating widely on social media in mid-2026, drawing public discussion in Nigeria about religious dress in the legal profession.
Nigerian media and social media users widely described her as the country's first niqab-wearing lawyer, but neither the Body of Benchers, the Nigerian Bar Association, nor the Nigerian Law School has formally confirmed that claim. Mikhail has not made a detailed public statement about the photos or the reactions surrounding them.
Online responses were divided. Some questioned whether wearing a niqab is permissible for lawyers, while others praised her for combining professional achievement with her religious convictions.
Source. Pulse Nigeria