Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Henry Owen
Human rights lawyer and public interest advocate, Chief Malcolm Emokiniovo Omirhobo, has stood firm against a 24-hour ultimatum issued by controversial Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, refusing to retract his earlier call for the Nigerian government to investigate Gumi’s repeated public defence of terrorists.
In a strongly worded statement, Omirhobo dismissed Gumi’s threats as baseless and described his own remarks as “a constitutionally protected commentary made in the public interest.”
“For the avoidance of doubt, my statement is not defamatory,” Omirhobo declared. “It is based on verifiable facts and grounded in the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
The lawyer clarified that he never accused Gumi of being a terrorist but merely urged authorities to probe his public utterances and frequent advocacy for armed groups, which he says is “a lawful civic duty under Sections 14, 24, and 45 of the Constitution.”
Omirhobo, known for his outspoken defence of human rights and rule of law, maintained that no individual — cleric or otherwise — should be placed above scrutiny. He emphasized that if Gumi truly believes he has been defamed, the proper recourse is a court of competent jurisdiction, not intimidation through public threats or ultimatums.
“I stand by my statement. I refuse to retract it. No one is above the law,” he affirmed.
The legal practitioner further stressed that repeatedly defending or justifying the actions of terrorists who continue to massacre innocent Nigerians is not a matter of opinion but a “national security concern that demands investigation, not silence.”
His response has been met with widespread support from civic activists and Nigerians online, many of whom see it as a bold stand against what they describe as a growing culture of impunity and selective justice in the country.
Observers note that Sheikh Gumi has faced public backlash for years over his open calls for dialogue and amnesty for armed bandits, yet he remains untouched by the law. Many Nigerians believe Omirhobo’s insistence on accountability highlights a larger demand — that the state must act decisively to confront those who excuse or enable violence.
As the standoff continues, all eyes are now on both the Federal Government and the security agencies to see whether they will finally investigate the cleric’s activities or once again turn a blind eye.
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