Prosecute Religious Sect Financing Terrorism, Anglican Primate Tells Federal Govt

Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Henry Ndukuba has called on the federal government and anti-graft agency to identify the religious sect financing terrorism and make it to face the law.

The church’s demand followed a comment by the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ola Olukoyede, that a religious sect, which he failed to name was laundering money for terrorists.

Ndukuba, who fielded questions from journalists after presenting a communique issued at the end of Standing Committee Meeting of the church yesterday in Abuja, said there should not be sacred cows and asked the EFCC to prosecute the culprits.

The primate said that it is expected that religion should be part of the solutions to societal problems and not part of the cause of the problem.

“The EFCC chairman did not tell us which religious group or sect did it, because within Christianity we have different sects and within Islam we have different sects so often times when it is presented like that, we lump everybody together.

“I think that no matter what may be the case, one problem we are wrestling with in Nigeria is the weaponization of our religious and ethnic identities.  Until we deal with this problem, Nigeria may not be able to cope with the issues even in the future.

“Often times when there are sacred cows in the system, people who think that they own this nation and they can live above the law, whether they are politicians or community leaders, traditional rulers or religious leaders, I believe that the fundamental rule of law is the basic guardian and protector of the society.

“I think that since this is already known, the presidency and the legislature, with the judiciary must get down and get their work done to assure us that all citizens are equal before the law and there are no sacred cows and indeed the rule of law is meant to promote faith, love, progress and those things that matter for us in this nation,” he said.

Ndukuba further stated that as long as EFCC fails to execute its constitutional responsibility, then they have failed.

He said there is no other way to go than to do the right thing, and that is why individuals and corporate bodies must choose to be on the side of the truth and godliness.

The primate called on Nigerians to allow the EFCC to do their constitutional duties without interference or attempt to suppress them.

“As the scripture says ‘godliness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach,’, so we want to appreciate the courage to bring this to the public view, but it is not enough, let the EFCC be allowed to do their constitutional duty and let such religious organization answer for themselves, we will not use them to call every other religious organization a bad name.

“I think that it is high time we started doing things that will promote the unity, the oneness, and the progress of this nation.

“No reasonable religious person will give any support to this, but this tells you how deep our problems are. When we weaponize our religious identity and our ethnic identities, everything around collapses, such people must be brought to book,” Ndukuba added.