Lawyer Demands Prosecution Of Islamic Scholar, Sheikh Gumi For Allegedly Backing Terr0rism
Lawyer Demands Prosecution Of Islamic Scholar, Sheikh Gumi For Allegedly Backing Terrorism
The lawyer said it was “deeply alarming” that Gumi continues to publicly describe armed terrorists as “listening and reasonable human beings” who should be pacified rather than neutralised by the Nigerian military.
Human rights lawyer and public interest advocate, Chief Malcolm Omirhobo, has called on the Nigerian government to investigate and prosecute Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi for what he described as “consistent justification and defence of terrorists” in Nigeria.
In a statement titled “Terrorism Apology is a Crime, Government Must Investigate and Prosecute Sheikh Ahmad Gumi,” Omirhobo accused the Kaduna-based Islamic cleric of aiding terrorism through his public statements and actions that sympathise with bandits and insurgents.
The lawyer said it was “deeply alarming” that Gumi continues to publicly describe armed terrorists as “listening and reasonable human beings” who should be pacified rather than neutralised by the Nigerian military.
According to him, “Gumi’s consistent public utterances, visitations to terrorist camps, and advocacy on their behalf raise serious concerns regarding national security, complicity, and the promotion of terrorism.”
He warned that no individual, regardless of religious or social status, should be above the law.
“Freedom of speech does not protect speech that promotes crime, violence, or threatens national security,” Omirhobo said, citing Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Omirhobo cited several legal provisions that, in his view, empower the authorities to take action against Gumi.
These include the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, which criminalizes direct or indirect support for terrorist groups, their ideologies, or public justification of their actions.
He highlighted Sections 3, 5, 12, and 13 of the Act, noting that “any person who justifies, supports, or communicates with terrorists without lawful authority commits an offence punishable by imprisonment.”
The statement further referred to Sections 37, 38, and 46 of the Criminal Code Act, describing acts that promote armed rebellion against the Nigerian State as treasonable and punishable by life imprisonment or death.
“The Nigerian government must rise to its constitutional duty to protect lives and property. Silence in the face of bloodshed is complicity,” Omirhobo demanded.
The activist urged the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Police Force, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to immediately open investigations into Gumi’s activities.
He also called on the National Assembly Committees on Defence, Human Rights, and Judiciary to exercise oversight and ensure accountability.
“Defending terrorists is not peace-building, it is aiding evil and undermining the Constitution of Nigeria,” he stated.
Gumi, a former army officer and prominent Islamic scholar, has continued to stire controversy over his public justification of banditry and defence of bandits in northern Nigeria.
In multiple interviews and media appearances, he has advocated dialogue with bandits, arguing that many of them are “victims of neglect” rather than hardened criminals.
Critics, however, accuse him of legitimising terrorism and undermining national security.
In 2021, Gumi visited several bandit camps in Kaduna and Zamfara states, urging the government to grant amnesty to the armed groups, an approach similar to that used in the Niger Delta.
Despite public backlash, Gumi has maintained that negotiation is the only viable path to peace, a stance that continues to divide opinion across the country.
