Terrorism Watch List: MURIC Reacts, Blasts Pantami's Detractors
- More prominent Nigerians are defending the minister of communication, Dr. Isa Pantami
- The minister was targeted by fake media reports which alleged he was on a terrorism watchlist in the US
- A prominent Islamic group in the country says the report is a lie from the pit of hell
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The Muslims Rights Concern (MURIC), has reacted to the reports claiming the minister of communication, Dr. Isa Pantami is on a US terrorism watch list.
Although, the publishers of the report have since retracted the report and apologised to the minister, the director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, condemned the report and stated that it is a hatchet job.
In a statement sent to Legit.ng on Wednesday, April 14, Professor Akintola said:
“It is fake news. It is a lie from the pit of Jahannam. It is a product of malice, envy and evil desire concocted in the laboratory of the notorious pull him down syndrome.
“It exists only in the imagination of the authors of the evil plan, It will not stand the test of authenticity.”
Akintola extolled the expertise and dedication of Pantami to his duties as minister and member of the Federal Executive Council.
Source: Twitter
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He added:
“Pantami is an honest, diligent, and uncommon Islamic scholar whose ability to combine his discipline with digital expertise has raised him above his peers and made him an indispensable asset to this country.”
Meanwhile, upon a request for clarification, the public affairs section of the US Embassy referred to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
On the FBI website, Pantami's name was nowhere to be found in the list of most-wanted terrorists, fugitives, or other criminals.
On its part, the Nigerian Advocates for Digital Reporting condemned the speculative media reports on the minister.
The organisation described it as a desperate attempt to link him with terrorist associations.
Pantami had earlier reacted to the report, saying the publishers defamed his character and must meet his lawyers in court.
The minister explained that his teachings which have been on for more than a decade were against evil persons and criminals in Nigeria, adding that his life at a time was threatened following his debates on the subject of anti-terrorism.
Also, concerning the ongoing NIN-SIM verification exercise, he noted that the ministry is doing its utmost to tackle insecurity through this medium and that criminals are already feeling the heat.
On his part, presidential media aide, Bashir Ahmad, dismissed the claim by the newspaper report, adding that the media house intentionally avoided verifying the facts and went ahead to mislead a lot of Nigerian readers.
Ahmad maintained that the minister has never been on the US government watchlist.
Source: Legit.ng
