News
Lawyer Drags FG To Court Over Firearms’ Licence
Published
3 years agoon
By
Editor
A human rights lawyer, Malcolm Omirhobo, has dragged President Muhammadu Buhari and the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, to a Federal High Court in Abuja over their refusal to grant him licence to possess assault rifles for self-defence.
He predicated his request for assault rifles possession on the claim that the Federal Government has failed to uphold its constitutional obligation to protect life.
The lawyer was requesting the court for 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 2nd defendant (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.
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The plaintiff, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1078/2021, obtained by journalists on Thursday, was 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, brutalised, dehumanised, 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 rifles, 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, sodomising, extorting, kidnapping, abduction, brutalisation, dehumanisation, 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 rifles, General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) and other sophisticated weapons is a breach of the social contract between the defendants and Nigerian citizens.”
The lawyer is specifically seeking a declaration that “it is unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional for the 2nd defendant (President ) to refuse, fail and/or neglect to grant the plaintiff licence to possess and own an A6 147 Premium AK 47 Assault Rifle based on the Plaintiff’s application of 8/7/2021 which the 2nd Defendant received on 9/7/2021 to enable the Plaintiff exercise his constitutional right to self-defence for protection life and property.”
He also seeks 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 licence 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.
Omirhobo filed the suit on behalf of himself and the Nigerian public.
READ ALSO: 2023 Polls: Twist, Turns As Court Frees Nnamdi Kanu
Other defendants in the suit are the Minister of Defence, Attorney General of Federation, (AGF), 36 states and their Attorneys-General.
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.
Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed had however, 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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News
JUST IN: NLC Defies Edo Assembly Resolution, Inaugurates Factional Caretaker Committee
Published
13 minutes agoon
August 28, 2025By
Editor
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has inaugurated Professor Monday Igbafen as Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Edo State Council despite resistance from the state House of Assembly.
This particular faction is supported by the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajero, while the Edo State government is in support of the Comrade Bernard Joman Egwakhide-led faction.
The swearing-i was initially slated to take place at the Adams Oshiomhole Labour House in Benin City on Thursday, but the venue was locked and secured, apparently in a bid to block the event from taking place.
This came two days after the state House of Assembly passed a resolution urging the NLC to suspend the inauguration and instead recognize Comrade Bernard Joman Egwakhide as the rightful leader of the union in Edo.
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In spite of this, the NLC delegation from the national secretariat, led by Comrade Oluwole Adeleye Sunday, pressed on with their plans.
The group initially moved to the ASUU Secretariat within the Ugbowo campus of the University of Benin, however, after information about that location was leaked, the team quickly relocated.
The inauguration was eventually conducted at an undisclosed venue under tight security.
Speaking during the ceremony, Comrade Oluwole charged the newly constituted faction to restore unity within the state chapter.
“You are to resolve all contending issues and work towards electing new executives,” he said.
READ ALSO: May Day Shocker: NLC Cancels Celebrations In Rivers, Edo States
In his acceptance remarks, Professor Igbafen pledged to mend divisions within the Edo NLC, assuring stakeholders of a renewed focus on solidarity and internal cohesion.
At NLC Secretariat, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force sealed off the Edo State secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress otherwise known as the Adams Oshiomhole Labour House.
Similarly, the main gate of the University of Benin was beefed up with police personnel.
Some suspected thugs were also seen loitering around the secretariat.
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A police Armoured Personnel Carrier was deployed to the NLC secretariat,
while heavy security at the Labour House and the UNIBEN main gate were present.
Some NLC leaders from neighbouring states, who were scheduled to attend the inauguration, at the Labour House, expressed regret that they could not access the secretariat.
Speaking, Comrade Augustine Igben from the Maritime Workers Union, said he was embarrassed when he was not allowed entry into the Edo Labour House.
“I felt embarrassed about the whole thing. How can the police barricade the Labour House when there is no war. It is a Labour issue. They should allow Labour to settle the issues themselves.” He said.

Access Holdings Plc has appointed Mr. Innocent Ike as its substantive Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, effective August 29, 2025, following regulatory approval.
The announcement, contained in a statement released on Wednesday and signed by the company secretary, Sunday Ekwochi, comes hours after Roosevelt Ogbonna resigned from the company’s board in compliance with new corporate governance rules issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Ike takes over from Ms. Bolaji Agbede, who has steered the company in acting capacity for the past 18 months after the death of former Group CEO, Herbert Wigwe, in 2024.
She will now return to her role as Executive Director, Business Support.
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According to the statement, Access Holdings Chairman, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, said Ike’s appointment signals a new phase for the group.
He said, “We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Innocent Ike as we move forward. At the same time, we want to express our deepest gratitude to Ms. Bolaji Agbede.
“Her outstanding contributions over the past 18 months have been invaluable, and we appreciate her dedication in navigating the Company through challenges and opportunities. While regulatory requirements necessitate this change, we are grateful for the strong foundation that has been laid.”
Under Agbede’s leadership, the company achieved major milestones, including workforce stability, the execution of a N351bn rights issue, and the seamless hosting of two annual general meetings.
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Speaking on the appointment, Ike said, “I am honoured to take on the role of Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer and excited to work alongside the talented team at Access Holdings.
“I look forward to building on the strong legacy established by Herbert Wigwe and Bolaji Agbede, and driving our vision forward, ensuring we continue to deliver exceptional value to our shareholders and stakeholders.”
Ike, a graduate of the University of Lagos and Best Graduating Student in Accounting in 1988, is a Fellow of both the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria.
He is also a certified IFRS expert.
With over 30 years’ experience in banking and financial services, Ike previously spent a decade at Access Bank, rising to General Manager before serving as Managing Director/CEO of Polaris Bank from 2020 to 2022, where he introduced VULTe, the bank’s award-winning digital platform.
News
Group Fumes As Rivers CJ Inaugurates LG Poll Tribunal
Published
1 hour agoon
August 28, 2025By
Editor
A rights group, the Pilex Centre for Civic Education Initiative, has faulted the inauguration of the Local Government Election Petition Tribunals in Rivers State, accusing the state Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi, of lending credibility to what it described as an “illegal” electoral process.
Justice Amadi had on Tuesday sworn in chairmen and members of the tribunals for the state’s three senatorial districts ahead of the August 30 local government elections.
He charged the appointees to be fearless, firm and impartial in discharging their duties within the 30 days provided by law for determination of petitions.
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But reacting shortly after the inauguration, Pilex Coordinator, Courage Nsirimovu, said the action of the Chief Judge amounted to endorsing an election already tainted by legal controversy.
“The action of the Chief Judge in setting up the tribunal is tantamount to endorsing illegality. He has just attempted to clothe an illegal process with legality, but it won’t work. The judiciary should have resisted this capture by the executive,” Nsirimovu said.
He argued that Justice Amadi ought to have boycotted the exercise or even resigned, insisting that his involvement eroded the moral authority of the judiciary.
“Outside this country, people resign to protect the rule of law. Here, the Chief Judge knows the law yet still went ahead. There is no moral justification for all of this,” he added.
READ ALSO:Nigerian Senate Passes 2025 Budget For Rivers State
Justice Amadi, however, defended his action, stressing that the establishment of the tribunal was a statutory duty under the Rivers State Local Government Elections Tribunal Law 2000 (as amended). He dismissed suggestions that he acted under political pressure.
“What I have done is the statutory duty of the Chief Judge. That is what the law provides — when there are local government elections, the Chief Judge must set up a tribunal. I didn’t do it under pressure,” he said.
Justice Amadi reminded the tribunal members that, unlike before when tribunals had three months, they now had only 30 days to conclude petitions.
“Many lawyers will come there and start objections to delay. You have to be firm,” he told them.
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