TheCable

Femi Fani-Kayode, a former minister of aviation, has called for the arrest of Ahmad Gumi, the prominent Islamic cleric.

Gumi, who has access to some bandits terrorising the north-west, had in February asked the federal government to grant blanket amnesty to the bandits.

On Tuesday, he urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to pay the N100 million demanded by the abductors of Greenfield University students, Kaduna state.

Meanwhile, one of the parents of students abducted from College of Forestry Mechanisation Afaka, also in Kaduna, had said Gumi linked them to a suspected negotiator for the bandits who was paid N800,000 for transportation.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Fani-Kayode said if Gumi knew about the money allegedly paid, the government should invite him for interrogation.

“I hereby call on the Federal Government to invite, arrest and interrogate Sheik Ahmad Gumi,” the statement read in part.

“Assuming this lady’s testimony is true it provides clear evidence of him being an accessory and accomplice to terrorism, abduction, kidnapping and murder.

“If this were not the case he would not spend his entire life attempting to defend, justify, rationalise and explain their barbaric, homicidal, savage and beastly ways.

“These people have so much blood on their hands yet Gumi still holds himself out as their advocate and best friend.”

The former minister said if the federal government refuses to act against Gumi, it will raise questions about its commitment to fighting terror and stopping the terrorists.