The Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN), has urged the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, to urgently reveal the identity of the religious body allegedly sponsoring terrorism/insurgency with ₦7billion.
The Council also expressed dismay over the composition of security committee set by the Plateau State Governor to investigate the violent attacks and killings in the state, describing it as biased against the Muslim.
In a statement by the president of the council, Sheikh AbdurRasheed Hadiyatullah, and the Secretary General, Malam Nafi’u Baba Ahmed, the group said the EFCC should not hesitate to name religious group associated with the criminal act.
“Regarding the recent disclosure by the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) about religious groups sponsoring insurgency in Nigeria, the Council demands the Commission to disclose the identity of the religious body allegedly sponsoring terrorism/insurgency with ₦7billion out of ₦13 billion traced to its account.
“This revelation has sent shockwaves across the nation, raising concerns about potential fund misuse for activities threatening Nigeria’s peace and security,” he said.
The Shari’ah Council further said the gravity of the situation called for immediate public clarification of the group and decisive action to address the disturbing nexus between religious groups and insurgency.
“Accordingly, we urgently call upon the EFCC to publish the list of all sponsors involved in criminal activities. The alleged disclosure of ₦7 billion linked to a religious group’s account is a matter of grave concern, and citizens demand proper legal action against sponsors and those found complicit in financing activities undermining the nation’s security.
“We further call on the EFCC to expedite the release of the list of sponsors and collaborate with relevant authorities to ensure prompt legal actions are taken,” it said.
On the probe panel inaugurated by the Plateau state government to find out causes of persistent violence and killings in parts of the state, Shari’ah Council said its concerns were about fairness and inclusivity, alleging that the entire members of committee were Christians.
“In light of the recent letter released by the Secretary to the Government of Plateau State on January 29th, 2024, addressing the ongoing crises that have claimed numerous lives and caused extensive property damage in the state, we express our deep outrage at the gross insensitivity over the constitution of the security committee by the State Governor.
“The composition of the committee has raised serious questions about fairness and inclusivity, since the entire members of committee are Christians, expected to superintend over a lingering religious crisis,” it said.
Onyebuchi Ezigbo
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After all, some Muslims, who are perhaps, subscribers or associates of the Supreme Council of Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN), have dismissed the claims by the victims of the Plateau massacres that there is a religious motive behind the attacks on them; so, why is SCSN now bothered by the absence of “Muslim representation” on the panel investigating the Plateau massacres? More so , when given her majority Christian population, the composition of the panel that they are complaining about is to be expected; and it would appear that the Plateau State Government herself does not believe that there is a religious motive behind the attacks.
Whereas, those who are known to be engaged in religion-motivated terrorism (Boko Haram, ISWAP, Darul Islam) are very clear that the imposition of Sharia laws is their ultimate objective; whereas, the objectives of this group and the SCSN appear to be coincident and given the additional details SCSN have given about the allegation made by the EFCC Chairman; therefore, is it not reasonable to expect the SCSN to know those who are helping to warehouse the whooping sum of N7 Billion for the purposes of sponsoring the imposition of Sharia on Nigeria?! Or is the SCSN call just akin to the proverbial man, who knows the answer to his question, but nevertheless, proceeds to ask it anyway?! If indeed the SCSN is innocent of complicity in sponsoring Sharia-directed terrorism, as she appears to be pleading here; then I tell them that this is their chickens coming home to roost. Because, the seeming embarrassment they are now experiencing is what happens when an attempt is made to impose a theocracy based on 7th Century laws, that are at the very best woolly, amorphous and anachronistic, on a 21st Century, multi-religious society like Nigeria –an undertaking which is quite fraught.
After all, some Muslims, who are perhaps, subscribers or associates of the Supreme Council of Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN), have dismissed the claims by the victims of the Plateau massacres that there is a religious motive behind the attacks on them; so, why is SCSN now bothered by the absence of “Muslim representation” on the panel investigating the Plateau massacres? More so , when given her majority Christian population, the composition of the panel that they are complaining about is to be expected; and it would appear that the Plateau State Government herself does not believe that there is a religious motive behind the attacks.
Whereas, those who are known to be engaged in religion-motivated terrorism (Boko Haram, ISWAP, Darul Islam) are very clear that the imposition of Sharia laws is their ultimate objective; whereas, the objectives of this group and the SCSN appear to be coincident and given the additional details SCSN have given about the allegation made by the EFCC Chairman; therefore, is it not reasonable to expect the SCSN to know those who are helping to warehouse the whooping sum of N7 Billion for the purposes of sponsoring the imposition of Sharia on Nigeria?! Or is the SCSN call just akin to the proverbial Oyo man, who knows the answer to his question, but nevertheless, proceeds to ask it anyway?! If indeed the SCSN does not know anything about those sponsoring terrorism, with a view to imposing Sharia on Nigeria; then I tell them that this is their chickens coming home to roost, as the seeming embarrassment they are now experiencing is what happens when an attempt is made to impose a theocracy based on 7th Century laws, on a 21st Century, multi-religious society like Nigeria –an undertaking which is fraught.