Connect with us

News

Lawyer Drags FG To Court Over Firearms’ Licence

Published

on

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.

Advertisement

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.

READ ALSO: Exhibits Linked To Suspended DCP Abba Kyari Tested Positive To Cocaine, Witness Tells Court

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.

Advertisement

“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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Comments

News

FG Launches Passport Front Office For Senior Public Officials

Published

on

The Federal Government on Tuesday in Abuja launched a new passport front office specifically for senior public officials

Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said that the office has a specialised facility designated to facilitate a timely and seamless passport process.

Advertisement

He stated that the facility was established in response to the persistent challenges faced by senior government officials in accessing passports.

Before now, many top-level public servants had to abandon their official duties and endure long queues at standard passport offices.

READ ALSO:5 Most Expensive Passports In the World

Advertisement

“It will became clear that for us to serve the nation more effectively, we must also serve those tasked with its leadership more efficiently,” he said.

He further said that the initiative was part of a broader reform effort championed by the ministry.

When we came in, it was shocking that the Ministry of Interior and the Nigerian Immigration Service had no dedicated passport facility for public officials.

Advertisement

“Today marks a turning point as we begin to bridge that gap and set a new course for service delivery in our nation,” he added.

READ ALSO: US Halts Passport Applications With ‘X’ Gender Marker

Tunji-Ojo also commended the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) for its professionalism and implementation expertise.

Advertisement

“This facility sets a new benchmark for excellence and will significantly improve access, reduce waiting time and thereby elevate the overall passport service delivery standard,” the minister stated.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the inauguration was attended by the Minister of Water Resources, Prof. Joseph Utsev, heads of all Services under the ministry alongside stakeholders.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

JAMB Sets Cut-off Mark For University Admissions

Published

on

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has fixed 150 as the minimum cut-off mark for admission into Nigerian universities for the 2025/2026 academic session.

The decision was reached on Tuesday during the 2025 Policy Meeting on Admissions, held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja, with stakeholders from various tertiary institutions in attendance.

Advertisement

READ ALSO: BREAKING: FG Officially Releases Age Limit For Admission Into Tertiary Institutions

According to JAMB, 140 was approved as the minimum score for colleges of nursing sciences, while polytechnics, colleges of education, and colleges of agriculture will admit candidates with a minimum score of 100.

The minimum admissible scores for admissions for the next academic session have been fixed at 150 for universities, 100 for polytechnics, 100 for colleges of education, and 140 for colleges of nursing sciences by the stakeholders (Heads of Tertiary Institutions),” JAMB announced via its official X account.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

News

Why ADC Will Collapse In Six Months — Bwala

Published

on

Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser on Policy Communication to President Bola Tinubu, says the opposition coalition formed under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will collapse within six months due to a lack of ideology and vision.

Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, Bwala said the coalition comprises politicians without a unified agenda, describing them as “internally displaced politicians” who have failed to present credible alternatives to Nigerians.

Advertisement

What I still find intriguing is that this coalition of internally displaced politicians has not been able to summon the courage to come up with alternative facts, alternative policies, or alternative programmes,” Bwala said.

He added that the coalition has relied solely on press statements and criticism without offering a roadmap to challenge the ruling party.

READ ALSO: Coalition Illogical, Driven By Personal Ambition – Bode George

Advertisement

Bwala said, “Throughout the interview you had with Peter Obi, what I observed is that he has not been able to counter or disagree in the real sense of the word with the policies.

“They have not brought a single alternative policy to the table. The truth is, they lack vision and have not shown Nigerians they truly care.”

Bwala predicted that internal power struggles, particularly over who becomes the presidential flagbearer, would tear the group apart and cause ADC’s collapse before it gets off the ground.

Advertisement

All this fantasy of coalition, we all know that once there is a phenomenon like that, we are going to have a good two to three weeks of romanticising: ‘we have ideas, we can do this.

READ ALSO: Coalition: Why ADC Leaders Stepped Down — Nwosu

“One of them Datti (Baba-Ahmed) has already sensed the danger ahead and said the problem of this coalition will be who becomes the president. Because right now I’m quoting him ‘everybody wants to be the president,’” he said.

Advertisement

After one month, when they sit down, I am telling you on my honour, in the next six months, that coalition will not even be a conversation. They will scatter.”

He also claimed that Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, has effectively stepped down for Atiku Abubakar, former Vice-President and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

According to Bwala, Obi is now struggling to secure the vice-presidential ticket and may compete for the slot with Rotimi Amaechi, former minister of transportation.

Advertisement

He added that there are talks of Obi being appointed Director-General of the coalition’s campaign, with promises that Atiku would serve a single term to pave the way for Obi to contest in the future.

READ ALSO: Trump Threatens Extra 10% Tariff On BRICS Nations

However, Obi recently declared his intention to run for president again in 2027, dismissing reports that he had agreed to serve under Atiku.

Advertisement

“Peter Obi is now a non-issue. He’s a non-starter. Already, he has conceded his presidential ambition to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

“Now he has become second fiddle, but he needs to fight for the vice-presidential ticket with Rotimi Amaechi.

“And from what we are hearing, they have convinced him that he will be director-general of the campaign to lead the movement and that when they win the election, Atiku will do one term, and then Peter Obi will return to become president,” he stated.

Advertisement

Recall that earlier, several opposition figures including Obi, Atiku, Amaechi, former Senate President David Mark, and ex-Minister Rauf Aregbesola adopted the ADC as a platform to challenge President Tinubu in the 2027 elections.

But Bwala insisted the alliance is unstable and poses no threat to the presidency.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending