By Pascal Ibe
CLAIM
NN News Media on Saturday published a report with headline that Renowned Islamic cleric Sheik Ahmad Gumi labelled president Tinubu a drug baron, certificate forger and money launderer while faulting the release of list of terrorist financers in Nigeria.
VERDICT
The claim is Misleading. Ahmad Gumi only disagreed with the Federal Government over its recently released list of those linked to terrorism financing in the country.
Full Text
On Saturday, March 22, 2024, NN News Media published a report of Gumi faulting list of terrorist financers with a caption that wrote, ”Drug baron, certificate forger, money launderer lack legitimate to declare anyone terrorists: Gumi slams Tinubu govt over terrorist financiers”
The report and it’s headline was shared on X and in many WhatsApp groups.
Last week, the Federal Government uncovered the identity of 15 entities, including nine individuals and six Bureau De Change operators and firms, allegedly involved in terrorism financing.
Details of the development were revealed by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, in an email sent to our correspondent on Tuesday night, entitled “Designation of Individuals and Entities for March 18, 2024.”
The document revealed that the Nigeria Sanctions Committee met on March 18, 2024, where specific individuals and entities were recommended for sanction following their involvement 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.
VERIFICATION
When this same report of the Islamic cleric Sheik Ahmad Gumi faulting list of terrorist financers was checked on Punch newspaper online, Gumi 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.”
On Vanguard online, Gumi reacting to the list on X space organised by Daily Trust on last Wednesday, Gumi, opined: “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 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 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 the newspaper? Once a case is in court, you allow the court to decide.”
Speaking further he 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 have full fledged punishment. But as of what I know, let’s wait for the court.”
Further checks of the report on NN News Media showed that the body of the story is very different from what it on the headline.
CONCLUSION
Having checked reputable news organizations and going through the body of the report on NN News Media, there was no place the Islamic cleric Sheik Ahmad Gumi called president Tinubu a drug baron, certificate forger and money launderer.
The Headline of the story on NN News Media is Misleading.
