THE Ummah Movement under the National Islamic Centre, NIC, has condemned the bill before the National Assembly seeking to grant amnesty to treasury looters.

Muhammad Babangida-Muhammad, the NIC Amir, gave the indication on Monday, July 17, in a statement made available to newsmen in Zaria, Kaduna State, saying the movement was saddened by the proposed bill, which it condemned in totality.

The bill, which has gone through first reading at the National Assembly, seeks to enact an “Act to Establish a Scheme to Harness untaxed Money for Investment Purposes and to assure any Declarant Regarding Inquiries and Proceedings under Nigerian Law and for other Matters Concerned Therewith,” the group said.

While describing the bill as self-serving, the organisation urged all Nigerians of good will to condemn it prevail on the National Assembly to abandon and cancel its second reading.

The group said that the greatest tragedy that could befall a nation, was when people who could stop evil fail to act rightfully. It said that the passage of the bill would only institutionalise and legitimise impunity in the Nigeria.

The Ummah warned that all elected representatives who dared to support the obnoxious bill would be noted by Nigerian voters as supporters and promoters of treasury looters, adding: “Supporters of this bill are enemies of the welfare of Nigerian citizens and eligible to be voted out of office at the next election or be recalled immediately,” it said.

The group also sympathise with the victims of what it described as the “massacre” on the Mambilla in Taraba. “The Ummah Movement expresses its deepest sympathy with the victims and condemns the wanton destruction of lives and property on the Mambilla by ‘ethnic militia’ in Sardauna Local Government of Taraba State.

“Why are the State and Local Governments hiding information as if supporting the bloodshed. “We urge the Federal Government to direct security agencies to take necessary measures to halt the massacre of innocent Nigerians and arrest the armed criminals with their leaders. “Make them face the full wrath of the law.

“The Federal Government should expedite action towards establishing Judicial Commission of Inquiry that will get to the root cause of the crisis,” it pleaded.

—  Jul 17, 2017 @ 15:20 GMT