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.”
But reacting to the development on Twitter spaces organised
by Daily Trust on Wednesday, Gumi, who faulted the list, explained that the
security agencies had no right to label anyone a terrorist financier.
He claimed that no Nigerian would finance terrorism, adding
that 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.”
Speaking on Manu, 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.
Gumi had recently revealed his intention to dialogue with
bandits who abducted about 287 schoolchildren from Kuriga Government Secondary
and LEA Primary Schools in the Chikun Local Government Area of the state.
Gumi said this in a bid to facilitate the release of the
abducted schoolchildren should President Bola Tinubu give him the opportunity
to negotiate.
According to the prominent Islamic scholar, Tinubu must not
repeat the mistake made by former President Muhammadu Buhari, who refused to
dialogue with bandits.
Bandits had invaded the Kuriga area of the Chikun Local
Government Area of Kaduna State, shooting at their victims before taking away
at least 280 of the pupils and teachers from both schools.
