Security analyst Kabiru Adamu has clarified that, under Nigerian law, only the courts have the authority to classify any group as a terrorist organisation, stressing that such powers do not rest with the president or officials within the executive branch.
Adamu’s comments followed a statement made on Monday by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s position that kidnappers and bandits would henceforth be treated as terrorists.
The minister made the declaration during the Federal Government’s end-of-year media briefing in Abuja, explaining that the move was aimed at improving intelligence collaboration and boosting coordination among security agencies.
Reacting during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Adamu, who heads Beacon Consulting Ltd, argued that existing legislation clearly outlines the process for determining terrorist status.
He explained that the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, as amended in 2022, defines acts of terrorism and sets out the legal framework for identifying terrorist groups, their sponsors, and financiers. According to him, the law places this responsibility squarely on the judiciary, following a formal application by the Attorney General of the Federation.
Adamu emphasized that neither the president nor any member of the executive arm of government has the legal mandate to unilaterally designate any group as a terrorist organisation, noting that such decisions must come from a court of competent jurisdiction.
He further warned that granting the executive such authority could open the door to abuse and political manipulation, especially in a charged political climate.
According to him, allowing the executive to make such determinations could undermine democratic principles, as groups might be labelled terrorists based on political considerations rather than legal standards.
