The Supreme Council for Sharia’h in Nigeria (SCSN) has called on the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to disclose the name of a religious organisation it claimed is sponsoring terrorism in the country.
In a statement signed by its president, Sheik Abdularasheed Hadiyatullah and secretary-general, Malam Nafiu Baba Ahmad, it stated that the recent disclosure by the chairman of EFCC about religious groups sponsoring insurgency in Nigeria has sent shockwaves across the nation.
The council, while demanding the full disclosure of the identity of the religious body allegedly sponsoring terrorism with N7bn out of N13bn traced to its account, raised concerns about potential fund misuse for activities threatening Nigeria’s peace and security.
“The gravity of the situation calls 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,” they said.
While calling on the commission to expedite the release of the list of sponsors and collaborate with relevant authorities to ensure prompt legal action, the council said the issue of terrorism 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.
The council also condemned the recent letter released by the secretary to the government of Plateau State to address the ongoing crises that have claimed numerous lives and caused extensive damage in the state.
It expressed deep outrage at the gross insensitivity over the composition 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. This is a textbook antithesis of the principles of equality and transparency.
The situation in Plateau State demands a comprehensive and impartial approach.
“The total exclusion of Muslims representation in the security committee not only disregards the diverse fabric of the state (with at least 40 percent Muslims) but also jeopardizes the effectiveness of the committee in addressing the root causes of the ongoing conflicts.”
It further called for the re-evaluation of the committee‘s composition to ensure that it is truly representative of the entire population.