Gumi criticizes government's list, denies Nigerians financing terrorism
Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheik Ahmad Gumi, opposes the Federal Government's recently released list of individuals allegedly linked to terrorism financing in the country.
The Federal Government has identified 15 entities, comprising nine individuals and six Bureau De Change operators and firms, allegedly linked to terrorism financing.
This information was disclosed by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit in an email sent to our correspondent on Tuesday night, titled "Designation of Individuals and Entities for March 18, 2024."
The document disclosed 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 forefront of the individuals listed in the document was Tukur Mamu, an associate of Gumi and a publisher based in Kaduna. Mamu is currently undergoing trial by the Federal Government for allegedly assisting the terrorists responsible for the Abuja-Kaduna train attack in March 2022.
According to the document, Mamu was implicated in financing terrorism by receiving and delivering ransom payments totaling over $200,000 US to support ISWAP terrorists in the release of hostages from the Abuja-Kaduna train attack.
However, during a Twitter spaces session organized by Daily Trust on Wednesday, Gumi criticized the list, asserting that security agencies lacked the authority to designate individuals as terrorist financiers.
He asserted that Nigerians wouldn't fund terrorism, stating that terrorists finance their activities using ransom payments obtained from the families of kidnapped victims.
"No Nigerian would fund terrorism; we've moved past that. These individuals finance themselves by extorting ransom from our abducted children's families."
"So, how can we accuse individuals of financing terrorism simply because of a disagreement?" the cleric questioned.
He continued, "Now they are demanding N1 billion for the release of these children (kidnap victims). They (terrorists) fund themselves through kidnapping. I believe it's unjust to label your political opponents as terrorism financiers."
Regarding Mamu, Gumi stated that if found guilty by both the court of law and public opinion, he should face appropriate punishment.
"Mamu's case is before the court. Let's await the court's decision. Engaging in a media trial is improper. Let the court determine if he's a financier or not. If acquitted, he may have grounds for a libel case.
"Who has the authority to designate someone as a terrorist financier? Is it the court or a security agency? The security agency lacks the jurisdiction to make such declarations. Since the matter is already before the court, why judge him through media publications? When a case is in court, we must let the court decide," he concluded.
Gumi recently expressed his intention to engage in dialogue with the bandits responsible for abducting approximately 287 schoolchildren from Kuriga Government Secondary and LEA Primary Schools in the Chikun Local Government Area of the state.
He stated this with the aim of facilitating the release of the abducted schoolchildren if given the opportunity to negotiate by President Bola Tinubu.
The prominent Islamic scholar emphasized that Tinubu should avoid repeating the mistake made by former President Muhammadu Buhari, who declined to engage in dialogue with bandits.
The bandits had attacked the Kuriga area of the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, shooting at their victims before kidnapping at least 280 pupils and teachers from both schools.
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