Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheik Ahmad Gumi, has faulted the recent list released by the Federal Government, containing names of suspected financiers of terrorism in the country.
The Federal Government had recently unveiled fifteen persons, including nine individuals and six Bureau De Change operators and firms, allegedly involved in terrorism financing.
Among those named in the document was Tukur Mamu, a Kaduna-based publisher, who is currently being tried by the Federal Government for allegedly aiding the terrorists who attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train in March 2022.
Mr Mamu is a close ally of Gumi and according to the document, he (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.”
In his reaction on Twitter spaces organised by Daily Trust on Wednesday, Gumi, who faulted the list, however said the embattled publisher should be punished if found guilty by a court of law and court of public opinion.
“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.
Gumi went ahead to declare that the security agencies had no right to label anyone a terrorist financier, adding that no Nigerian would finance terrorism.
According to him, the terrorists are financing their operations with monies made from ransom collected from kidnapped victims’ families.
“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.”
He also cautioned the security agencies against media trial, saying the court should be allowed to do its job.
“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.
