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NSCIA warns FG against weaponising state institutions in El-Rufai case

Published

2 months ago

September 9, 2026

Ebola Scare: NSCIA Directs Imams to Intensify Awareness in Friday Sermons

Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede

NSCIA warns FG against weaponising state institutions in El-Rufai case

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs breaks its silence on the former governor’s legal ordeal, citing “serious concerns” over possible sectarian agenda in the multiple prosecutions keeping El-Rufai in the spotlight.

ABUJA – The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has raised the alarm over what it described as “an extraneous involvement of an underlying religious bias” in the ongoing prosecutions of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai. The Islamic body, which had deliberately stayed out of the controversy until now, said recent developments had forced it to break its silence on the matter. In a statement signed by its Secretary-General and immediate-past Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, the NSCIA explained that its earlier restraint was based on its belief that El-Rufai’s prosecution, like those involving other political figures, was a standard judicial process and that the judiciary had the inherent capacity to uphold justice. However, the council said recent developments in the public domain had raised serious concerns that strongly suggested religious considerations might be creeping into a process that should be determined solely by law and evidence.

The NSCIA called on the Federal Government and the Judiciary to ensure that individuals with vested religious interests were strictly prevented from weaponising public institutions or the legal system to pursue what it described as a sectarian agenda against El-Rufai. “Consequently, the Council calls upon the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Judiciary to ensure that individuals with vested religious interests are strictly prevented from weaponizing public institutions or the legal system to execute a sectarian agenda against him,” the statement read. The council stressed that its position was anchored on the Islamic principle of justice and fairness, regardless of political, religious or personal considerations, and clarified that its intervention was not intended to interfere with the judicial process but to emphasise the need for justice to be administered without religious or sectarian considerations. The Islamic body also appealed to the general public to refrain from incendiary comments that could prejudice the fair trial of El-Rufai or exacerbate the security situation in the nation. “Furthermore, the Council appeals to the general public to refrain from incendiary comments that could prejudice the fair trial of Mallam El-Rufai or exacerbate the security situation in our nation,” the statement read.

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The NSCIA‘s intervention comes against the backdrop of a protracted legal battle that has kept El-Rufai in the spotlight since February 2026. The former governor is facing multiple prosecutions by different agencies on charges bordering on alleged abuse of office, money laundering, breach of national security, and wiretapping. The council’s decision to speak out followed comments by the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), who accused El-Rufai of planning killings in Southern Kaduna while he was governor between 2015 and 2023. Musa had described the situation in Kaduna during El-Rufai’s administration as “toxic”, adding that many residents of Southern Kaduna remained unhappy with the former governor over killings recorded in the area.

El-Rufai, through his family, rejected the allegation and demanded that the minister withdraw the claim, with his eldest son, Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, giving Musa seven days to provide evidence supporting the allegation or publicly retract it. The controversy generated by Musa’s remarks has further widened the debate surrounding El-Rufai’s legal battles, with the NSCIA‘s intervention effectively placing the prosecution within a wider debate over the alleged politicisation and religious manipulation of state institutions. The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has taken a sharply divergent position, backing the Defence Minister’s allegations and demanding an independent investigation into alleged killings and human rights abuses during El-Rufai’s administration, with possible prosecution before the International Criminal Court (ICC). The NSCIA’s intervention, which did not identify any individual or group it accused of pursuing a religious agenda, serves as a significant development in a case that has become a flashpoint for broader debates about judicial independence, political persecution, and religious neutrality in Nigeria’s legal system.

The council concluded its statement by praying for peace, stability and security in Nigeria. “May Almighty Allah grant peace, stability, and security to Nigeria,” it said.

NSCIA warns FG against weaponising state institutions in El-Rufai case

Related Topics:El Rufai Featured FG NSCIA state institutions

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MURIC Applauds Army as Mogadishu Cantonment Mosque Reopens After Week-Long Closure

Published

4 hours ago

October 25, 2026

Trends Admin

MURIC Applauds Army as Mogadishu Cantonment Mosque Reopens After Week-Long Closure

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has commended the Nigerian Army Headquarters and the commandant of Mogadishu Cantonment for reopening a mosque used by Muslim soldiers and their families in Abuja after a week-long closure.

The Islamic human rights organisation said the mosque, which serves Muslim personnel and their families residing in military accommodation within the cantonment, was reopened on Tuesday, October 20, following an appeal by the group.

MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, disclosed this in a press statement issued on Sunday, October 25, 2026, describing the reopening as a welcome development that demonstrated the importance of dialogue and cooperation in resolving religious concerns.

According to Akintola, the mosque had been closed since October 12, preventing Muslim soldiers and their families living within the military facility from using it for their daily prayers.

He said MURIC had earlier appealed to the Army Headquarters and the cantonment authorities to explain the reason for the closure and restore access to the mosque for worshippers.

The organisation expressed concern over the disruption of daily prayers and urged the military authorities to address the matter.

Akintola said the mosque’s reopening on October 20, the same day MURIC publicly raised the issue, brought relief to the organisation and affected worshippers.

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He described the development as an indication that concerns raised through dialogue and peaceful engagement could receive prompt attention from relevant authorities.

MURIC said it appreciated the response of the Army Headquarters and the cantonment commandant, praising what it described as the professionalism of the military leadership and its respect for the rule of law.

The organisation also expressed optimism that the resolution of the matter would strengthen public confidence in the military and encourage constructive engagement between religious communities and security institutions.

According to Akintola, cooperation between the military and Muslim communities is particularly important in addressing terrorism, insurgency and other security challenges facing the country.

He argued that mutual understanding and goodwill between the armed forces and civilians would help strengthen collective efforts to combat insecurity.

MURIC therefore urged Muslims across Nigeria to cooperate fully with military personnel and other security agencies, stressing the importance of public support in the fight against crime and insurgency.

The organisation maintained that peaceful engagement remained essential to resolving disagreements and preventing issues involving religious practice from escalating into wider disputes.

Although MURIC welcomed the reopening of the mosque, its statement did not disclose the reason for the initial closure or whether the Army Headquarters had issued a separate explanation.

The development followed MURIC’s earlier public appeal to the military authorities to explain the closure and reopen the facility.

The organisation’s latest statement focused on appreciating the authorities for restoring access to the mosque and encouraging continued cooperation between Muslims and the military.

MURIC, which advocates the protection of Muslim rights and promotes dialogue as an alternative to violence, said the outcome offered encouragement that concerns could be addressed through peaceful and constructive engagement.

The organisation concluded by urging Nigerians to support security agencies in their efforts to maintain peace and reduce crime across the country.

MURIC Applauds Army as Mogadishu Cantonment Mosque Reopens After Week-Long Closure

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US Declares Two Nigerians Wanted Over $3.1m Medicare Fraud, Drug Offences

Published

5 hours ago

October 25, 2026

Trends Admin

Ezechukwu Joshua Ohaka and Tayo Muyiwa Olukoya

US Declares Two Nigerians Wanted Over $3.1m Medicare Fraud, Drug Offences

The United States government has listed two Nigerian men, Ezechukwu Joshua Ohaka and Tayo Muyiwa Olukoya, as wanted over separate allegations involving healthcare fraud and drug-related offences.

The two men were listed by different US federal law enforcement agencies, with Ohaka accused of participating in a scheme involving more than $3.1 million in fraudulent Medicare claims, while Olukoya is wanted over an alleged conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.

According to information released by the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, Ohaka, 57, allegedly worked with co-conspirators through his Houston-based company, Luant & Odera, Inc., to submit fraudulent claims for durable medical equipment.

The equipment included power wheelchairs, motorised scooters and wheelchair accessories that investigators alleged were medically unnecessary or were not supplied to beneficiaries.

The agency said the alleged scheme involved more than $3.1 million in claims, with approximately $1.08 million in proceeds reportedly obtained.

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Investigators also alleged that Ohaka presented himself as a medical doctor under the name “Dr Joshua Ohaka” and targeted Medicare beneficiaries who had lived in areas affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The authorities further alleged that kickbacks were paid to recruit beneficiaries into the scheme.

The allegations concern possible fraud against Medicare, the US government-funded health insurance programme that primarily serves people aged 65 and older and certain younger people with qualifying disabilities or medical conditions.

In a separate case, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) listed Olukoya, 57, also known as “Uncle”, as wanted over an alleged conspiracy to possess controlled substances with the intention of distributing them and to distribute the substances.

The DEA’s Chicago Division announced that it was seeking information about Olukoya, whose case is associated with the Southern District of Indiana.

Olukoya had previously been named among defendants in a marijuana trafficking case announced by the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana in May 2022. Prosecutors at the time alleged that the wider operation involved the distribution of large quantities of marijuana across several US states between 2016 and 2022.

However, the latest DEA wanted notice does not, by itself, establish that the allegations have been proven in court.

The two cases involve separate investigations, and there is no indication in the available reports that Ohaka and Olukoya were connected.

US authorities have called for information that could help locate the wanted men. The agencies have not established in the cited announcements that either man is currently in Nigeria.

The development comes amid continued efforts by US law enforcement agencies to pursue people accused of healthcare fraud, drug trafficking and other federal offences.

Both men are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

US Declares Two Nigerians Wanted Over $3.1m Medicare Fraud, Drug Offences

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Borno: Troops Kill 15 Terrorists in Midnight Air Strike

Published

6 hours ago

October 25, 2026

Trends Admin

Borno: Troops Kill 15 Terrorists in Midnight Air Strike

Nigerian troops under Operation Hadin Kai have reportedly killed 15 terrorists in a precision air strike near Pulka in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, as the military intensifies operations against insurgent groups in the North-East.

The operation, which took place at about 11:50 p.m. on Friday, October 23, 2026, followed intelligence reports and confirmed sightings of suspected terrorist movements in the area, according to the military.

The Acting Military Information Officer of the Joint Task Force (North-East), Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Saturday, October 24.

Goni said the air strike targeted suspected terrorists operating north-west of Pulka, a community in Gwoza Local Government Area, which has been affected by the prolonged insurgency in Borno State.

He explained that the operation was intelligence-led, with information gathered by security agencies helping to identify the suspected movements before the military launched the strike.

According to the statement, the air operation was followed by ground operations aimed at exploiting the targeted area and consolidating the gains recorded during the engagement.

The military said the combined deployment of intelligence and coordinated military capabilities was intended to disrupt terrorist movements, weaken their operational capacity and prevent them from threatening communities across the North-East.

Goni described the operation as part of the sustained offensive posture of troops under Operation Hadin Kai, which continues to target insurgent elements and restrict their freedom of movement across the region.

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He said the Theatre Command remained committed to defeating terrorism and insurgency, protecting law-abiding citizens and creating conditions for the return of normalcy and socio-economic activities in affected communities.

The military also assured residents that troops would sustain ongoing operations with vigilance, determination and professionalism.

However, the statement did not identify the terrorist group involved in the latest encounter or provide details about the identities of those reportedly killed. It also did not disclose whether any civilians or military personnel were injured or killed during the operation.

The military urged residents to continue providing security agencies with timely and credible information about suspicious movements and activities, stressing that cooperation between civilians and security forces remained essential to achieving lasting peace in the North-East.

The latest operation adds to the ongoing military campaign against insurgency in Borno State, where security forces continue to conduct offensive operations aimed at weakening armed groups and improving security in vulnerable communities.

Although the military described the strike as an operational success, further details about the outcome of the subsequent ground operations were not immediately available.