Lawyer Demands Sheikh Gumi’s Prosecution Over Alleged Support For Terrorism

Human rights lawyer and activist, Chief Malcolm Omirhobo, has urged the Federal Government to investigate and prosecute Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, for allegedly defending and justifying terrorism in Nigeria.

In a statement titled “Terrorism Apology is a Crime, Government Must Investigate and Prosecute Sheikh Ahmad Gumi,” Omirhobo accused the Kaduna-based cleric of aiding terrorism through his public comments and visits that sympathise with bandits and insurgents .

The lawyer described Gumi’s repeated portrayal of armed terrorists as “reasonable human beings” deserving of dialogue rather than military action as “deeply alarming.”

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.”

Omirhobo stressed that no individual, regardless of religious or social standing, should be above the law.

“Freedom of speech does not protect speech that promotes crime, violence, or threatens national security,” he said, citing Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

He also referred to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, which criminalises direct or indirect support for terrorist groups, their ideologies, or public justification of their actions.

Highlighting Sections 3, 5, 12, and 13 of the Act, Omirhobo said, “Any person who justifies, supports, or communicates with terrorists without lawful authority commits an offence punishable by imprisonment.”

He further cited Sections 37, 38, and 46 of the Criminal Code Act, which classify acts that promote armed rebellion against the Nigerian state as treasonable offences 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 stated.

He called on 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 investigate Gumi’s activities, while urging the National Assembly Committees on Defence, Human Rights, and Judiciary to ensure oversight and accountability.

“Defending terrorists is not peace-building, it is aiding evil and undermining the Constitution of Nigeria,” he added.

Sheikh Gumi, a former army officer and prominent Islamic scholar, has courted controversy for his repeated calls for dialogue with bandits in northern Nigeria.

In 2021, he visited several bandit camps in Kaduna and Zamfara states, urging the government to grant amnesty to the groups — an approach similar to that used in the Niger Delta.

While Gumi insists that negotiation is the only path to peace, critics accuse him of legitimising terrorism and undermining national security.