Artist Health

Celebrities Behaving Badly: Nigeria’s Gun Laws & JUDE OKOYE’s Very Reckless Display on Instagram

Jude Okoye is the manager of the African grown world famous brand known as P-Square. He is also the senior brother to the P-Square twins (Peter and Paul Okoye).  On the Nigerian end of things, Jude Okoye hits us with foolishness so real as we open 2014. Okoye, just yesterday, went online and shared a picture of his handgun accompanied with a note which translated to the fact that he is not one to be *F*ck(ed) with.* The way I grew up and where I grew up, if you have to take to the streets to announce that you are not one to be messed with, then you are a punk. If you are all that as you claim to be, others do the spreading of the word about your “toughness.”

I don’t know what the point of his actions on instagram was, but it is juvenile and highly irresponsible given the society he lives in, and his (instagram) that is devoid of anything showing he has a legitimate license to carry a gun.

JUDE OKOYE Reckless Display of Guns 2

Let’s get even more serious with the law. What are the gun laws in Nigeria?

What Law Governs?
The Firearms Act, Chapter 146, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1990, Part II of the code applies for our purposes.

What are the Key Things to Note About GUN Licensing in Nigeria?

Part II
Licensing

3. No person shall have in his possession or under his control any firearm of one of the categories specified in Part I of the Schedule hereto (hereinafter referred to as a prohibited firearm) except in accordance with a licence granted by the President acting in his discretion.

4. No person shall have in his possession or under his firearms control any firearm of one of the categories specified in Part II of the Schedule to this Act (hereinafter referred to as a personal firearm) except in accordance with a licence granted in respect thereof by the Inspector-General of Police, which licences shall be granted or refused in accord-ance with principles decided upon by the National Council of Ministers.

5. (1) This section shall not have effect in respect of Lagos.

(2) The Commissioner of Police of a State, with the consent of the Governor of the State in respect of the State or any part thereof, may by order prohibit the possession or control of any firearm of the categories specified in Part III of the Schedule to this Act (hereinafter referred to as a “muzzle-loading firearm”) without the licence of an authority to be specified in such order.

(3) Upon the making of an order under subsection (2) no person shall within any area specified in such order have in his possession or under his control a muzzle-loading firearm without a licence granted in respect thereof by the appropriate authority in accordance with regulations made under section 33 of this Act.

(4) An authority specified in an order made under sub-section (2) of this section, shall render such periodical returns as may be required by regulations.

(5) The grant of a licence in respect of a muzzle-loading firearm in respect of which application has been duly made shall not be refused except for one of the reasons specified in subsection (2) of section 7 of this Act.

6. No person shall within Lagos have in his possession or under his control a muzzle-loading firearm without a licence from the Inspector-General of Police.

7. (1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (5) of section 5 of this Act, no person shall, as of right, be entitled to the grant of any licence or permit under this Act and the authority having the function of granting such licence or permit may without being bound to assign any reason therefor refuse the grant of such licence or permit or, subject to the provisions of any regulations made under section 33 of this Act, may impose such terms or conditions as he may think fit, and may revoke such licence or permit for such cause as he may consider appropriate:

Provided that any person aggrieved by any such decision, other than a decision by the President, may appeal in writing to the President acting in his discretion whose decision thereon shall be final.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, no licence or permit under the provisions of this Act shall be granted if there is reason to believe that the applicant or holder of the licence-

(a) is under the age of seventeen;

(b) is of unsound mind;

(c) is not fit to have possession of the firearm in question on account of defective eyesight;

(d) is a person of intemperate habits;

(e) has during the previous five years been convicted of an offence involving violence or the threat of violence.

8. (1) The owner of a firearm in respect of which a Safe custody licence or permit has been granted in accordance with the of firearms. provisions of this Act shall be responsible for the safe custody of the firearm to which the licence or permit relates.

(2) The owner of such firearm, in the case of loss, theft or destruction of such firearm, shall notify such loss, theft or destruction and the circumstances thereof within fourteen days of being aware thereof to the authority who issued the licence or permit, and shall at the same time surrender the licence or permit for such action as such authority may consider necessary.

(3) Upon the death of the holder of a licence or permit, a person lawfully in possession of the chattels of the deceased or a person to whom a firearm or ammunition therefor has been bequeathed may, notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, lawfully have in his possession a firearm or ammunition in respect of which the deceased person held a licence or permit for a period of fourteen days after such death:

Provided that the Inspector-General of Police may, if he thinks fit, seize such firearm or ammunition and retain or deposit the same in a public armoury until a licence or permit shall have been granted in respect thereof.

9. (1) No person shall have in his possession or under his control any ammunition in respect of any firearm referred to in the Schedule to this Act except in accordance with the terms of a licence or permit granted to him and in force in respect of such firearm.

(2) This section shall apply in respect of all ammunition as defined in section 2 of this Act, except-

(a) ammunition for a muzzle-loading firearm in the possession or under the control of a person outside Lagos and in any area not for the time being the subject of an order in accordance with section 5 of this Act;

(b) lead shot for use only as a weight or weights;

(c) blank cartridges (other than those for humane killers) not exceeding 2.54 centimetres in diameter.

-Uduak
Photocredit: Jude Okoye Instagram via BellaNiaja.com

Watch and Learn About the Gun Problem in Nigeria and Learn Why Jude Okoye’s Actions are Particularly Reckless

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