Compel Buhari, IGP to grant me permission to possess assault rifle to protect life, Lawyer begs Court

A human rights lawyer, Malcolm Omirhobo, has dragged President Muhammadu Buhari and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) before a Federal High Court in Abuja over their refusal to grant him a licence to possess an assault rifle for self-defence.

He predicated his request for the assault rife possession on the claim that the Federal Government has failed to uphold its constitutional obligation to protect life.

The lawyer prays the court for the interpretation of relevant sections of the Firearms Act, Criminal Code Act and other relevant laws as to whether it is lawful, legal and constitutional for the President to refuse, fail or neglect to grant him licence to possess an assault rifle for protection of his life and that of his family.

In the suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/1078/2021, the plaintiff is particularly seeking, “A declaration that he and other Nigerian citizens are entitled to defend themselves against unlawful violence of being killed, raped, sodomised, extorted, kidnapped, abducted, brutalized, dehumanized, debased, deprived of their rights to private and family life, freedom of movement, right of residency, peaceful assembly and association and protection of their property from the attacks of heavily armed criminals with AK 47 Assault rifle, General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) and other sophisticated weapons, by means of licensed firearms.

“A declaration that the refusal, failure and/or neglect of the defendants to abate the killings, raping, sodomizing, extorting, kidnapping, abduction, brutalization, dehumanization, debasement, destruction of property, the restriction of the freedom of movement and right of residence, freedom of peaceful assembly and association, family and private life and. the’ seizing of property of defenceless Nigerian citizens: by heavily armed criminals with unlicensed AK 47 Assault rifle, General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) and other sophisticated weapons is a breach of the social contract between the defendants and Nigerian citizens.”

The lawyer specifically wants the court to declare that it is unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional for the President to refuse to grant him the license to possess and own an A6 147 Premium AK 47 Assault Rifle based on his application of 8/7/2021 which the President received on 9/7/2021 to enable him to exercise his constitutional right to self-defence for protection life and property.

He also seeks the court’s declaration that it is unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional for the 6th to 16th defendants (36 states of their Attorney-Generals) not to apply for firearms licenses from the 2nd and 4th Defendants and the Commissioner of Police of their various States for the protection of the lives and properties of Nigerian citizens within their domain.

The plaintiff in the suit, Omirhobo filed the suit on behalf of himself and the Nigerian public, with the Minister of Defence, Attorney General of Federation, (AGF), 36 states and their Attorneys-General as defendants.

At Thursday’s proceedings, only Lagos, Ebonyi, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom and Edo were represented in court while others sought adjournment in the hearing of the suit and the trial Judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed fixed January 24, 2023, for hearing.

The Judge also ordered that the processes, including hearing notice be served on the respondents that have not been served.

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