Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, asserted on Monday that Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, is subject to Nigerian laws and could be summoned for questioning by security agencies as needed.

Idris made this statement following the Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu. He addressed inquiries about Gumi’s prominent role in advising the government on negotiations with bandits.

Ahmad Gumi has gained attention for his outspoken comments regarding bandit activities in Nigeria. Notably, he has previously engaged in negotiations between the government and bandits, with photographic evidence from these discussions.

Amid ongoing efforts to locate and rescue abducted students from Government Secondary and LEA Primary schools in Kuriga, Chikun LGA, Kaduna, Gumi reportedly expressed willingness to engage in dialogue with the bandits responsible for the attack on March 7, which resulted in the abduction of 137 students and a teacher.

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna recently announced the release of the abducted school children on Sunday. Minister Idris confirmed that the federal government did not pay ransom for their release, reaffirming a zero-tolerance policy toward negotiating with bandits.

Gumi has also accused the federal government of unfairly implicating individuals as terrorism financiers in response to the release of identities by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) for alleged terrorism ties.

In light of these developments, various groups have called for Gumi’s arrest over alleged connections with terrorist organizations. Responding to these concerns on Monday, Minister Idris emphasized the accountability of all individuals under the law.

He stated, “the security agencies will do their work if they feel that the statements made by Gumi are ‘reckless’. The government will stop at nothing to gather any information necessary to address our challenges. The security agencies are vigilant.”

Addressing Gumi directly, Idris asserted, “Sheik Gumi and any other individual are not above the law. If his suggestions are constructive, they will be considered. However, if his statements are deemed reckless, he will face consequences.”

He concluded, “When you make remarks, especially those concerning our national security, it is the responsibility of our security apparatus to investigate further. No one is above the law, and I am aware that Gumi has previously cooperated with security agencies for questioning.”

The Federal House of Representatives has called upon the technical team of consultants tasked with facilitating the ongoing constitutional review to make vital contributions towards shaping an inclusive and people-oriented constitution for the nation.

During a meeting held in Abuja, chaired by Rt. Honorable Benjamin Okezie Kalu, the Committee on Constitutional Review emphasized the importance of the consultants’ role in advancing democracy in Nigeria.

The committee formally inaugurated and issued appointment letters to the nine-man team of consultants, sharing the timeline of their workplan and urging them to thoroughly study and contribute to its development.

The appointed consultants, including legal luminaries such as Mamman Mike Osuman, SAN; Professor Nuhu Mohammed Jamo; Chief Chris Uche, SAN; and Mr. Seni Adio, SAN, were tasked with various responsibilities aimed at streamlining the constitutional review process.

These responsibilities encompass developing a time-bound work-plan for the Committee’s activities, advising on consultation methodologies with stakeholders, analyzing memoranda from the public, and conducting research on proposed constitutional amendments.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Speaker Kalu charged the consultants to consider their assignment as a patriotic duty and an opportunity to contribute to national development. He emphasized the importance of their expertise in addressing inconsistencies and bottlenecks in the current constitution.

Kalu highlighted the significance of the consultants’ sacrifice and commitment to the national cause, urging them to write their names in the annals of history by ensuring the success of the constitutional review process.

In response, the consultants expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and pledged to work diligently to justify the confidence placed in them. They acknowledged the national call of duty and affirmed their dedication to the task at hand, vowing not to fail Nigerians in their endeavor.

The meeting underscored the collective commitment to fostering a democratic and equitable society through comprehensive constitutional reforms, with the consultants poised to play a pivotal role in guiding this transformative process.

The Federal House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee intensified its scrutiny of the Bank of Industry regarding the unrecovered Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) offtake grants from 19,538 Nigerians, as part of the ongoing probe into the alleged mismanagement of COVID-19 intervention funds by various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

Chaired by Honorable Bamidele Salam, the Committee directed the Bank’s management to furnish it with pertinent documents detailing all disbursements related to the COVID-19 funds.

Represented by the Executive Director of Small and Medium Enterprises, Mr. Omar Shekarau, the Managing Director of the Bank, Mr. Olasupo Olusi, faced questioning over the COVID-19 fund management, which the Bank oversees on behalf of the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the National Export Promotion Council (NEPC).

According to Shekarau, the Bank received a total of N75 billion on behalf of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, with disbursements distributed across various tracks of implementation. These included payroll support, general MSME grants, artisan and transporter support, MSME offtake, and CAC formalization support.

Highlighting a concerning issue, Shekarau revealed, “Under the Guaranteed Offtake Scheme, 19,538 beneficiaries failed to deliver their items after receiving the 30 percent mobilization fee, thereby breaching the contract with the Federal Government.”

He emphasized that beneficiaries of the intervention programs encompassed artisans, transporters, small business owners, as well as private and public school staff.

In response to queries regarding the recovery mechanism for the MSME offtake grants, Shekarau stated that the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency is responsible for the loan recovery process.

Amidst the proceedings, when the Bank failed to substantiate its claims with adequate documentation, the Committee unanimously resolved that the Agency should promptly submit all relevant documents pertaining to the disbursements during the specified period.

The House’s rigorous scrutiny underscores the imperative of accountability and transparency in the management of public funds, particularly in times of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a significant legal ruling, a Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit brought forth by the Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA), which sought to halt the conduct of elections and examinations on Saturdays.

Presiding Judge James Omotoso delivered the verdict on Wednesday, labeling the suit as “frivolous, vexatious, irritating, baseless, and devoid of merit.”

Justice Omotoso emphasized that the fundamental rights purportedly claimed by the Church were not under threat and could not be curtailed by government policies.

The court further noted that the Seventh Day Adventist Church represents a minority religious denomination in Nigeria and cannot impose its religious doctrine on the majority of other religious groups in the country.

The suit, initiated by the SDA, argued that Saturday constitutes their Sabbath day of worship and that conducting elections and examinations on this day violates the fundamental rights of its members.

Despite the SDA’s plea to prohibit the Federal Government from scheduling such activities on Saturdays to preserve their right to worship, the court ruled against the motion.

The dismissal of the suit signifies a legal precedent affirming the secular nature of Nigeria’s governance system and upholds the principle of religious neutrality in public affairs.