EFCC CHAIRMAN’S CONTEMPT : MURIC CALLS FOR PROBE

 

9^th November, 2022

PRESS RELEASE:

EFCC CHAIRMAN’S CONTEMPT : MURIC CALLS FOR PROBE

 

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), AbdulRasheed Bawa, was yesterday sent to jail for contempt of court. But an Islamic human rights organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on the Federal Government to probe the circumstances surrounding the ugly development.

 

MURIC’s call for investigation was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday 9^th November, 2022 by its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

The statement reads :

“The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), AbdulRasheed Bawa, was yesterday sent to Kuje prison for contempt of court (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/11/court-remands-efcc-boss-in-prison-over-seizure-of-n40m-range-rover-2/). We are surprised by this judgement. We are therefore inclined to take the ruling with a pinch of salt.

 

“Considering where the EFCC chairman is coming from, we are equally disposed to the strong opinion that corruption might be fighting back. Without prejudice to the wisdom and authority of the learned judge, we posit that the circumstances surrounding the ugly development should be investigated by the Minister of Justice.

 

“We are particularly perturbed by the terms of the imprisonment as ordered by the honourable judge who said he should be committed to Kuje Prisons for his disobedience ‘until he purges himself of the contempt’.

 

“The Honourable Minister of Justice should investigate this with minimum delay. We must avoid a situation whereby heads of agencies act with impunity or where we give licence to judicial exuberance. There must be checks and balances on all sides.”

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

MURIC TO REDEEMED CAMP, JOURNALISTS: OUR WITNESSES ARE WAITING

 

7^th November, 2022

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC TO REDEEMED CAMP, JOURNALISTS: OUR WITNESSES ARE WAITING

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called out the Redeemed Camp of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and the media for fact-finding on its allegation that Muslims were disallowed from entering the camp for banking transactions and to check their WAEC, JAMB and other examination centres. Although the RCCG denied the allegation, MURIC says its own witnesses who were direct victims of the blockade are now ready to be interviewed.

 

MURIC’s claim was contained in a statement issued on Monday, 7^th November, 2022 by its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

The statement reads :

“It will be recalled that on Monday, 24^th October, 2022 we accused the Redeemed Camp of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) situated along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway of disallowing Muslims from entering the camp to transact business at the banks and to check their examination centers.

 

“The RCCG denied the allegation. It called it fake news. We reacted to RCCG denial on Wednesday, 26^th October, 2022 that we have evidence to back up our claim. We asked interested members of the media to contact us for the purpose of interrogating our witnesses but none did.

 

“We hereby reiterate the fact that we have lined up several witnesses who were direct victims of RCCG blockade of Muslim bank customers. There are names and telephone numbers of real Nigerian Muslim citizens, not ghosts, who were turned back at the RCCG gate for no other reason than that they are Muslims.

 

“We have no scintilla of doubt that the RCCG blockade is an infraction of the rights of those Muslim victims. It should therefore be pursued to a logical conclusion.

 

“We are ready to give out the names and telephone numbers of those innocent Muslim victims to journalists who are ready to interact with them for fact-finding. MURIC does not make frivolous allegations. Neither do we fabricate stories.

 

“Despite all efforts by our detractors to tarnish our image, we will continue to protect the interest of Muslims through keen observation of events and issues that may affect their Allah-given fundamental human rights. Our witnesses are waiting for courageous journalists who care to know the truth. It is a call to professionalism. Who will bell the cat?”

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

MURIC HAILS FASORANTI FOR ENDORSING TINUBU

 

3^rd November, 2022

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC HAILS FASORANTI FOR ENDORSING TINUBU   

 

Islamic human rights advocacy group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has commended the national leader of Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, for endorsing Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the preferred presidential candidate for Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election.

 

The human rights outfit spoke through its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Thursday, 3^rd November, 2022.

The statement reads :

“The national leader of the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, has endorsed Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the preferred presidential candidate for Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election.

 

“The highly respected Yoruba leader gave his blessings to Tinubu on Sunday, 30^th October, 2022 when the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress visited him at his country home in Akure, Ondo State (https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-west/562416-2023-afenifere-leader-blesses-tinubus-presidential-ambition.html).

 

“MURIC commends Pa Reuben Fasoranti for his sportsmanship and broadmindedness. Pa Fasoranti’s name will be engraved in letters of gold for ignoring the illogical, irrational and inexplicable choice of Pa Ayo Adebanjo who  declared support for Peter Obi of the Labour Party (https://dailypost.ng/2022/09/26/nigeria-presidency-afenifere-shuns-tinubu-declares-support-for-peter-obi/).

 

“We advise Pa Adebanjo to reflect on the events surrounding the June 12, 1993 presidential election, the role of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) in confronting military totalitarians and, in particular, the sterling quality of Bola Ahmed Tinubu among NADECO’s dramatis personae.

 

“Equally noteworthy for Pa Adebanjo is Tinubu’s heroic and miraculous rescue of Yorubaland from Nigeria’s drift to a one-party state and the attendant tyranny and dictatorship that would have followed in the hands of no other than one of the sons of Yorubaland who found himself in Aso Rock by accident but used the major part of his tenure to persecute Yorubaland. Perchance such retrospective glance, like the last look at the Moor, will remove the veil covering Pa Adebanjo’s eyes.

 

“A major significance of Pa Fasoranti’s endorsement of Tinubu is that it is capable of uniting the Yoruba people as Muslims and Christians will now rally behind Tinubu in a united front. The likely fallout of this development is a future payback by Yoruba Muslims who have shown the willingness to support a Christian candidate in future if their Christian counterparts vote for Tinubu, a Yoruba Muslim, in the 2023 presidential election.

 

“The 2023 election is of great importance to Yoruba Muslims because of the likelihood of a Muslim from the region emerging as president for the first time. All those who have tasted power in the past among the Yoruba have been Christians (Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Earnest Shonekan, Oladipo Diya and Yemi Osinbajo).

 

“It will be recalled that MURIC had earlier called for a Yoruba Muslim president as far back as February 2021 (https://saharareporters.com/2021/02/26/yoruba-muslims-wont-support-any-non-muslim-candidate-2023-presidency-%E2%80%94muric). It is also worthy of note that MURIC reiterated the call for a Yoruba Muslim president again in May and October 2021, long before the presidential primaries (https://www.thecable.ng/muric-yoruba-muslim-must-get-2023-presidential-ticket-regardless-of-political-party; https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/10/2023-presidency-well-only-vote-for-a-yoruba-muslim-from-south-west-muric/).

 

“This goes to show how important the Tinubu project is to Yoruba Muslims. It follows, therefore, that the extent to which Yoruba Christians respond positively or otherwise will go a long way to determine the parameter with which Yoruba Muslims will measure the future relationship between them and their Christian neighbours.  

 

“Yoruba Muslims and their Christian counterparts can work together for the greatness of Yorubaland in particular and Nigeria in general if they can come together in moments like this. We must think more of things that unite us instead of dissipating energy on things that divide us.

 

“Christians and Muslims in Yorubaland must come together at this crucial time for the purpose of grabbing the open sesame to the doors of Aso Rock. The zone is fortunate to have the gem of the collection, a unifier, a builder of men, a rare genius, a political colossus, the possessor of economic magic wand, the man who turned Lagos to a land of gold, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

 

1^st November, 2022

PRESS RELEASE:

NAIRA REDESIGN:

PUT ARABIC ON ALL DENOMINATIONS – MURIC   

 

An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has backed the move by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to redesign the naira. However, the group gave the condition that Arabic Ajami must be inscribed on all naira denominations.

 

This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday, 1^st November, 2022 by the group’s director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

The statement reads :

“The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, announced on Wednesday, 26^th October, 2022 the plan by the CBN to redesign the naira (https://www.premiumtimesng.com/business/business-news/561816-cbn-to-launch-new-naira-designs-december-suspends-deposit-charges.html).

 

“MURIC hereby expresses its support for the project with the proviso that all the denominations must contain Arabic inscriptions just as they had been before Arabic Ajami was conspiratorially and unjustly removed from some denominations. The removal provoked Muslims and caused division within the country. Only its return to all denominations can heal the wound.

 

“Chief Olusegun Obasanjo fired the first salvo against the naira during his eight year rule as a civilian president (1999 – 2007). Obasanjo removed the Arabic Ajami from N5, N10, N20 and N50 denominations in 2005. Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan took the cue by removing Arabic Ajami from the N100 note when he issued the commemorative centenary banknote on 19^th December, 2014.

 

“We assert clearly, categorically and unequivocally that both Obasanjo and Jonathan were motivated by tramadolised religiousity in taking this action. In both cases, the removal of Arabic from the naira generated heated debates and divided Nigerians along religious lines.

 

 

“We have reliable information that both Obasanjo and Jonathan acted after sustained but surreptitious pressure from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). The fact that the removal of Arabic from the naira on two different occasions occurred during the administration of two Christians speaks volumes.

 

“Even as we speak, a Christian lawyer has approached a Lagos high court seeking the removal of Arabic from the remaining naira notes. This implies that our Christian neighbours want to take everything from us. The remaining denominations from which they could not remove the naira through political power is what they have now assigned a Christian lawyer to get through the courts.

 

“MURIC succeeded in securing a joinder in the case and no judgement has been given yet. The main defendants are the CBN and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

 

“It points indubitably to the fact that it is a Christian agenda. Why is it that those who removed Arabic from naira are Christian presidents? Why couldn’t the campaign continue under the Muslim president who succeeded Obasanjo? Why was it reactivated under Jonathan, another Christian president?

 

“This, again, explains why CAN always agitates for Christians to be in power as president or as vice president. The Christian umbrella organisation always seeks to use the influence of Christian rulers to get what it does not deserve. CAN is always scheming to remove all Islamic landmarks from the Nigerian landscape.

 

“It was CAN that spread the misleading propaganda that the existence of Arabic Ajami on naira notes is a form of Islamisation. Nigerian Christians swallowed the bait, hook, line and sinker. That explains why 99% of those who have been agitating for the removal of Arabic from naira are Christians.

 

“They failed to see that if Arabic on the naira represents Islam or signifies Islamisation, English on the same naira either represents Christianity or portends Christianisation. By extension, if the use of Arabic is Islamisation, then the use of English, particularly as a lingua franca, is the Mother of all Christianisation.

 

“Unknown to many, Arabic is not a foreign language in Nigeria because it is actually spoken as the local language by a significant proportion of the population in North Eastern Nigeria called Shuwa Arabs. The removal of Arabic from the naira has cut off this section of our population from economic activities. This action constitutes a gross violation of Allah-given fundamental human rights of the Shuwa people as well as that of millions of Nigerian Muslims.

.

“MURIC is not unaware of the assurance given yesterday, Monday, 31^st October, 2022 by the former governor of the CBN, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to the effect that the current CBN governor had assured him that Arabic would not be removed from the new naira notes which are being expected next month.

 

“Our problem with the assurance is that it is silent on the bank notes from which Arabic Ajami was removed by both Obasanjo and Jonathan (https://dailynigerian.com/naira-redesign-emefiele/). We prefer a holistic package. Only thus can the injustice perpetrated by the two Christian rulers against Nigerian Muslims be addressed and the time to do it is now.  Those who removed Arabic from naira were Muslim-haters. Not only did they act in error, they were motivated by articulated Islamophobia.

 

“For the gross violation of the rights of Muslims by Obasanjo and Jonathan, MURIC demands redress and healing of wounds during the redesign of the naira by the CBN. Return of Arabic from those naira denominations from which it was earlier removed will reunite Nigerians.

 

“We demand the inscription of Arabic Ajami on every denomination coming in December 2022 or at any other time in future. Nigerian Muslims will consider any attempt by any Nigerian administration to remove Arabic Ajami from the naira as a deliberate assault on its faith. It will also be seen as an existential threat. It is the red line.” 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

MURIC RAISES ALARM ON HOARDING OF RICE, FINGERS CAN

 

28^th October, 2022

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC RAISES ALARM ON HOARDING OF RICE, FINGERS CAN

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on Nigerian authorities to critically look into the unwholesome attitude of some people suspected to be members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) over massive purchase and hoarding of paddy rice across the country.

 

The Muslim body raised the alarm in a statement signed by the Chairman, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Kano State Chapter, Mallam Hassan Sani Indabawa, on Friday, 28th October, 2022. 

 

The statement reads as follows: 

 

"Series of investigations conducted by MURIC has revealed a disturbing trend of massive purchase of paddy rice across the rice producing belt, cutting across the three northern agricultural ecological zones of the country. Several reports from the field established that a huge number of strange people are massively buying the commodity in bulk in Kebbi, Niger, Benue, Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi and Yobe states.

 

“The eight northern states account for over 70% of the rice being produced in the country. Nigeria is currently the largest producer of rice in Africa with a production capacity of 5.0m metric tonnes per annum.

 

"With the onset of the current harvest season, the unusual high demand for the commodity has already spiked the price upwards, aiming for the roof. While farmers may be happy with a good price, however, the rush for the mass purchase of the commodity is enough to raise some genuine concerns.

 

"Farmers and other stakeholders noticed an organized and coordinated purchase of the commodity in large quantity. From Kebbi State, down to Gashua in Yobe State, the story of influx of people, mainly Christians, is the same. They came for massive purchase of tons of rice, both milled and paddy.

 

"Our investigations further point to a high likelihood of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) being involved in this orchestrated mass purchase of rice produced for all Nigerians particularly because the buyers in large quantities are all Christians. They come with their weighing scale and tons of money. It is very suspicious.

 

"Apart from the existing aggregating centers, new ones have emerged where the commodity is bought at a higher price. This has already made the price of the commodity to jump up at an alarming rate.

 

"While farmers and local dealers are happy with the new buyers, many are, alarmed by the disturbing trend. Many of the "new rice merchants" admitted to have been mobilized for the exercise. While it is obvious that the ordinary farmer is happy that he is getting ready buyers, the discerning mind must ask the question : Why are they all Christians?

 

"The questions begging for answers are: What is the game plan of CAN? Why is the Christian body desperate to make the bulk purchase and hoard the commodity? And why at this crucial time, a few months to the general elections? Their action has already created unnecessary fear and anxiety as no one is sure of CAN's motive.

 

“Is CAN deliberately trying to create artificial scarcity or is the Christian umbrella body preparing for a worst case scenario? Or is it trying to discredit the Federal Government by making its efforts in the agriculture sector look like a failure? We all know how food is being weaponized in modern conflicts. Is CAN driving Nigerians to a stage when everyone will be forced to go to church for before they can get rice to buy?

 

"We call on the Nigerian authorities to look closely into this desperate move. Both the apex body of Nigerian farmers, the Apex Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) and the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) admitted to the unusual demand and the unprecedented hike in the price of the commodity at the peak of this year's harvest season. 

 

"The Federal Government should do the needful by preparing adequately and timely to forestall possible hunger due to mischievous hoarding of this essential commodity by some evil forces. FG can evolve a counter-purchase plan to save Nigerians from the Shylock merchants in CAN. We warn CAN to eschew any diabolical plan it may have with the massive purchase of the commodity." 

 

Mallam Hassan Sani Indabawa,

Chairman,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC),

Kano State Chapter.