Human rights lawyer Malcolm Omirhobo has refused to apologise to Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, after being given a 24-hour ultimatum to withdraw his comments calling for the cleric’s investigation.
Mr Omirhobo, in a statement posted on Facebook on Friday and titled “Sheikh Gumi, I Did Not Defame You—Let’s Meet in Court,” said he would not retract his position and was ready to defend it in court.
He stated that his earlier remarks were not defamatory but a constitutionally protected call made in the public interest.
“For the avoidance of doubt, my statement is not defamatory. It is a constitutionally protected comment made in national interest, based on facts and the law,” he said.
The lawyer explained that he did not label Sheikh Gumi a terrorist but only urged authorities to investigate his public statements and interactions, which he believes raise security concerns.
“I did not accuse Sheikh Gumi of being a terrorist. I only urged the authorities to look into his public utterances and engagements that seem to defend or justify the actions of terrorists,” Omirhobo stated.
Gumi had earlier given the lawyer 24 hours to withdraw his comments or face legal action.
But Omirhobo dismissed the warning, saying the cleric should seek redress in court if he feels defamed.
“If Sheikh Gumi believes I defamed him, the right place to prove it is in court, not through intimidation,” he said.
Reiterating his stance, Omirhobo said no individual is above the law and that his call for an investigation stands.
“I stand by my statement. I won’t take it back. No individual, cleric or otherwise, is above the law,” he said.
Omirhobo also urged security agencies to take his concerns seriously, noting that defending or excusing the actions of terrorists is a matter of national security.
“Anyone who defends or justifies the actions of terrorists is raising serious national security concerns that deserve investigation,” he added.
