Abuja mosque fires Imam Khalid, says he’s not remorseful

The chief Imam of Apo Legislative Quarters Juma’at Mosque in Abuja, Sheikh Nuru Khalid, has been sacked by the mosque’s steering committee for criticising President Muhammadu Buhari over last Monday’s attack on an Abuja-Kaduna train.

The Imam, in his Friday sermon, had criticised President Buhari for not visiting Kaduna over the terrorist attack, saying mere condemnation was not enough.

He argued that the President was in Kaduna for campaigns but refused to visit the state after the bomb attack on the passenger train.

Initially, Sheikh Khalid was suspended. But on Monday afternoon, mosque’s steering committee declared him sacked. They ascribed their latest decision to him not showing remorse.

The development was also confirmed by BBC hausa Journalist, AbdulBaki Aliyu Jari. He tweeted; “The management of Apo Legislative Quarters Central Mosque have disengaged Sheikh Nuru Khalid from his position of Imam.”

This newspaper also learned that Khalid has been banned from preaching in the mosque. The chairman of the committee, Senator Sa’idu Dansadau added that they fired Nuru Khalid altogether because he refused to show remorse after he was suspended.