Islamic Cleric Gumi, Disagrees With FG, Reveals How Terro-rists Are Funded | READ MORE
Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheik Ahmad Gumi, has disagreed with the Federal Government of Nigeria over the released list of alleged financiers of terr-orists in the country.
Trust Base News had earlier reported that a list released by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) identified nine individuals and six Bureau De Change operators and firms, allegedly involved in terrorism financing.
Top of the list of individuals named in the document was Gumi’s ally and Kaduna-based publisher, Tukur Mamu, who is currently being tried by the Federal Government for allegedly aiding the terrorists who attacked 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.”
Reacting to the list on X spaces organised by Daily Trust on Wednesday, Gumi, disagreed with NFIU, noting that no Nigerian would finance terrorism.
Gumi who claimed that no security agency has the right to tag anyone a financier of terrorism, opined that the terrorists are financing their operations with monies made from ransom.
In his words;
“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?”
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.”
Speaking on Mamu, Gumi 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.
“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.
