Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi has been invited by security agencies for questioning over some comments he made on the activities of bandits, according to the Federal Government.
The Minister of Information, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, who briefed State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting on Monday, said that nobody is above the law and, if found guilty, Gumi would be reprimanded.
Last week, Gumi said that the security agencies have no right to declare any Nigerian a terror financier. The cleric had reacted to a recent list by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, declaring his close associate, Kaduna-based publisher, Mallam Tukur Mamu, and 14 others as terror sponsors.
“The security agencies are up and doing. Sheikh Gumi or any other person is not above the law. If his suggestions are constructive enough for the security agencies to take, they will take. But if they think that he is also making some statements that appeared to be reckless, he will also be reprimanded.
“There is nobody that is above the law in this regard. And I am aware he has been a guest of security agencies to answer questions. When you make remarks that border on our national security, it is incumbent on the security agencies to dig further”, the minister said.
Idris also insisted that no ransom was paid for the release of all the 137 schoolchildren abducted on 7th March 2024 from the Chikun Local Government Area of the state by marauding bandits in Kaduna State, adding that the victims secured their freedom through the concerted efforts of security agencies in the country.
He said: “President Bola Tinubu is determined to end this cycle of payment of ransom to kidnappers. The government believes that this continues to encourage these kidnappers, these criminal elements to perpetrate this act within the Nigerian nation and it is the official position of government as announced here last week that ransom will not be tolerated. Ransom will not be encouraged ransom will not be paid by the government”.
On Sunday, Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani said that Gumi was not involved in the safe return of abducted Kuriga pupils, although the cleric had offered to negotiate with bandits for their release.
The governor had described as speculations, talks in some quarters that ransom was paid, stressing that Gumi was not involved in the rescue of the pupils.
