I didn’t label you a terrorist, but you are a defender of their activities – Popular lawyer Malcom to Sheikh Gumi

A popular human rights lawyer and public advocate, Chief Malcom Emokiniovo Omirhobo has challenged the Islamic Scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi to meet him in Court following his threat against the lawyer.

Malcom had called for investigation of Gumi for his “consistent public defence of terrorists.”

Advertisements

Malcom in a statement made available to journalists on Friday, insisted on his words calling for the investigation of Gumi, arguing that he has verifiable facts and he relied on the provisions of the Constitution 1999 as amended to comment on issues bordering the country.

He challenged Gumi to approach the Court, stating that he was ready to defend his utterances that the Islamic Scholar is sympathetic to the cause of terrorists where he had shown public solidarity and defence of their heinous activities.

Advertisements

Part of the statement read: “For the avoidance of doubt, I state unequivocally that my statement is not defamatory but a constitutionally protected commentary made in the public interest, relying on verifiable facts and the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

“I did not accuse Sheikh Gumi of being a terrorist. I only called on the appropriate authorities to investigate his public utterances, engagements, and advocacy on behalf of armed terrorists, which is a lawful civic duty under Sections 14, 24, and 45 of the Constitution.

“If Sheikh Gumi believes he has been defamed, the proper forum is a court of competent jurisdiction, not intimidation through threats or ultimatums.

“I stand by my statement. I refuse to retract it. No individual, cleric or otherwise, is above the law.

“I reaffirm that defending, pacifying, or providing justification for terrorists who are killing Nigerians raises legitimate national security concerns that deserve investigation, not silence.”

Advertisements