Popular Nigerian controversial Islamic cleric, Sheik Ahmad Gumi, has declared that the Department of State Services (DSS) has no right to declare his ally, Mallam Tukur Mamu, a terrorist financier.
Recall that the Federal Government recently released a list of 15 entities, including nine individuals and six Bureau De Change operators and firms, involved in terrorism financing.
Among the individuals named on the document is a Kaduna-based publisher, Tukur Mamu.
It is worth noting that Mamu has been in the custody of the DSS since his arrest in Cairo, Egypt, in September 2022. The cleric is currently being tried by the Federal Government for allegedly aiding the terrorists who attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train in March 2022.
Mamu was apprehended at the time with his family members while en route to Saudi Arabia for lesser Hajj.
During a recent X Space organized by Daily Trust, Sheik Ahmad Gumi stressed the importance of not granting security agencies the power to categorize an individual as a terrorist financier, particularly when the matter is already being handled by the court.
Despite facing charges related to terrorism financing in a Federal High Court in Abuja, Mamu firmly pleaded his innocence.
Sheikh Gumi described the situation between Mamu and the security agency as a misunderstanding, refraining from further comments as the case is currently being handled by the court.
“Mamu’s case is in court. Let’s wait to hear from the court. It’s wrong to resort to a media trial. Let’s wait for the court to state whether 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,” The Islamic scholar noted.
