Malcom Omirhobo, a human rights attorney based in Lagos, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to grant his application for a license to possess an AK-47 assault rifle so that he can protect himself, his family, and property from criminal and bandit attack. Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has set January 24, 2023, for the hearing of this case.
The case was postponed so that the plaintiff could serve the defendants with all court documents.
Briefing journalists at the court premises, Omirhobo noted that he was disturbed by the rising cases of armed violence and kidnapping in Nigeria and needed to arm himself with the weapon.
He, however, faulted government’s refusal to grant him license to own assault rifle for self defence, asking the judge to declare that the action is unlawful and illegal.
Omirhobo argued that denying him the rights to own weapon is contrary to Section 3 of the Fire Arms Act Cap. F 28, Laws of the Federation 2004.
Omirhobo is also asking the court to order President Buhari and the Inspector General of Police IGP and all the commissioners of Police in Nigeria to renew all expired gun licenses upon application by the applicants to enable them exercise their fundamental rights as enshrined in the constitution from attacks of heavily armed criminals with AK-47.
The plaintiff sued the federal government, President Buhari and all the 36 state governors with their attorneys-general.
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