Controversial Islamic cleric Sheik Ahmad Gumi has expressed disagreement with the Federal Government regarding its recent release of a list of individuals and entities linked to terrorism financing in Nigeria.
Allub Times reports that the Federal Government has identified 15 entities, which include nine individuals and six Bureau De Change operators and firms, that are allegedly involved in terrorism financing.
The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit disclosed the details of this development in an email sent to our correspondent on Tuesday night, titled “Designation of Individuals and Entities for March 18, 2024.”
The document stated that the Nigeria Sanctions Committee convened on March 18, 2024, and recommended specific individuals and entities for sanctions due to their involvement in terrorism financing.
At the top of the list of people mentioned in the document was Tukur Mamu, an ally of Gumi and a publisher based in Kaduna. Mamu is currently on trial by the Federal Government for allegedly helping the terrorists who carried out the attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train in March 2022.
According to the document, Mamu “participated in the financing of terrorism by receiving and delivering ransom payments over the sum of $200,000 US in support of ISWAP terrorists for the release of hostages of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack.”
Gumi, in response to this news during a Twitter discussion organized by Daily Trust on Wednesday, criticized the list. He argued that security agencies do not have the authority to accuse someone of financing terrorism.
Gumi stated that no Nigerian would fund terrorism, and pointed out that the terrorists are funding their activities with money obtained from ransom paid by the families of kidnapped victims.
“No Nigerian will put his money into terrorism, we’re beyond that. These people are financing themselves by taking our children for ransom.
“So, how can we say some people are financing terrorism because there is a misunderstanding between them?” the cleric said.
He added, “Now they are looking for N1 billion for these children (kidnap victims) to be released. They (terrorists) financed themselves by kidnapping. I think it’s rubbish to just frame your political opponents as financing terrorism.”
Gumi stated that if Manu, the embattled publisher, is found guilty by a court of law and the court of public opinion, he should be punished.
“Mamu’s case is in the court. Let’s wait to hear from the court. It’s wrong to resort to media trial. Let’s wait for the court to state if he is a financier or not. I think if he is acquitted, he has a strong case to make on libel.
“Who declares someone a terrorist financer? Is it the court of law or a security agency? The security agency has no right to declare anyone a terrorist financier. The case is already in court, so why are they judging him on the pages of the newspaper? Once a case is in court, you allow the court to decide,” he added.
Gumi recently announced his plan to engage in dialogue with the bandits responsible for kidnapping approximately 287 schoolchildren from Kuriga Government Secondary and LEA Primary Schools in the Chikun Local Government Area of the state.
He expressed his desire to negotiate for the release of the abducted schoolchildren if given the opportunity by President Bola Tinubu.
The well-known Islamic scholar emphasized that Tinubu should not make the same mistake as former President Muhammadu Buhari, who refused to negotiate with bandits.
Bandits attacked the Kuriga area of the Chikun Local Government Area in Kaduna State, shooting at their victims and then taking away around 280 pupils and teachers from both schools.
