A renowned Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, has faulted the declaration of Tukur Mamu as a terrorist financier by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU.
Mr Mamu, who is the publisher of Desert Herald newspaper, has been in custody since his arrest in September 2022.
On Wednesday, the NFIU listed Mr Mamu alongside eight individuals and six Bureau de Change firms as terrorism financiers.
But speaking during a Twitter Space session organised by the Daily Trust, Mr Gumi insisted that only the courts have the power to declare Mr Mamu guilty.
While faulting the “media trial” of the publisher, the cleric stressed that judgements should not be made in the public domain before a court verdict is reached.
He also disclosed that Mr Mamu’s ordeal is not unconnected with a misunderstanding between himself and a committee to set up to secure the release of some kidnapped victims.
“Who declares someone a terrorist financier? Is it the court of law or a security agency? 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 newspaper? Once a case is in court, you allow the court to decide,” he said.
While responding to his alleged links with terrorists, Mr Gumi said: “I am a public figure; many people come to me. The good, the bad, the ugly. As a preacher, I cannot send anybody away, no matter how bad.
“If you ask, especially pastors, armed robbers come to them and confess, but they cannot still take them to the authorities.
“What I know of Mamu and his arrest is a misunderstanding between him and the committee that was supposed to deal with the release of some victims. But since the case is in court, we hope the court will be just to him.
“That is what we wanted all along; take him to court. Instead of incarcerating someone and levelling phantom allegations against him.
“Bring your proofs, and if Mamu is found guilty, he should face punishment. But as of what I know, let’s wait for the court.”
Mr Gumi also alleged that the unjust arrest and intimidation of Mr Mamu could also be tagged as terrorism.
“Take him to court to face trial. Keeping him in custody, despite being a family man, was just to intimidate him. This intimidation is also terrorism.
“Arresting people unjustly is also terrorism; just like the terrorists do by going to somebody’s house to kidnap him.”
