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Sokoto cleric gets knocks for holding Eid prayer Sunday

Published

2 years ago

May 2, 2022

Sheikh Musa Lukwa

Islamic scholars and the Muslim Rights Concern have knocked an Islamic cleric in Sokoto, Sheikh Musa Lukwa, for again defying the directive of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, on moon sighting and leading his followers in Eid prayers on Sunday.

The Sultan had announced on Saturday that there was no report on the Shawwal moon sighting received from anywhere in the country by the moon sighting committee, hence the Eid-el-Fitri will hold on Monday.

But Lukwa, in his sermon on Sunday, said they have confirmed the sighting of new crescent in many places in Nigeria and neighbouring countries, adding that the new moon was sighted in many places within Sokoto State.

According to him, the moon was sighted at Fakku and Wauru in Kebbe and Gada local government areas of Sokoto respectively.

Reacting, the Chairman, MURIC Sokoto chapter, Muhammad Aliyu, in a chat with The PUNCH, said Lukwa was wrong to have defied the Sultan’s directive.

He said, “Under Sharia Law, we Muslims are expected to follow our leaders. The argument of the Sheikh is that the Sultan is more of a ceremonial leader without power. He’s saying we cannot follow him the same way Muslims used to follow Sultans in the past. Before the coming of the Europeans, Sultans had powers and supreme authority over everybody but now they are more of ceremonial leaders. That’s Sheikh’s argument but he’s very wrong because the Sultan remains the religious leader of Muslims as agreed by the majority of Islamic scholars.”

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On Sheikh Lukwa’s claim of sighting the moon, the MURIC chairman doubted him, saying naked eyes cannot make the sighting.

An Islamic scholar from Niger State, Ustaadh ‘Umar Paiko, faulted the Sheikh while quoting a portion of the Hadith to show why an individual Muslim cannot go against the directive of the Sultan.

He said, “It’s not unusual. I know a lot about Sheikh Lukwa, he disagrees with the Sultan a lot. We (majority of Islamic scholars and students) have disagreements with him concerning the way we understand the Hadith.

“There’s a portion of the Hadith which says the first day of fast is the day that everybody is fasting and the last day is the day everybody has stopped fasting, that is the Eid. The understanding of majority of scholars is that this is a reference to a leader because the unity can only be achieved on the directive of a leader.

“So, if your leader has not yet announced the sighting of the crescent moon, then it’s not the day for the beginning of the fast or its ending. So, an individual cannot go against this.”

On his part, Ustaadh Ajijolakewu from Ilorin said the Sheikh should be sanctioned so that he can learn how to relate with a ruler.

He said, “The truth is that he has disobeyed the established authority. The Prophet said the day that all Muslims break their fast is the day agreed by their ruler. So, even if you have seen the crescent moon by yourself, you cannot break your fast.

“So, what the Sheikh did was wrong according to Islam. He has to be sanctioned for some period so he can learn the basics of relating with a ruler, especially a constituted authority concerning the affairs of Muslims. My sincere advice to such a person is to desist from such act because it can cause disunity among Muslims.”

Lukwa had told journalists that a lecturer at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto confirmed that the new moon was sighted on the main campus of the university.

All efforts to speak with the representative of the Sultan, Waziri Sokoto, who is also the Chairman Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Sultanate Council, Prof Sambo Junaidu, were not successful as his telephone number was not reachable as of the time of sending this report. However, a palace source who preferred anonymity says the Sultanate council stands by the statement issued on Saturday on the result of moon sighting.

PUNCH

Related Topics:Eid prayer Featured Sokoto cleric

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Suspect narrates why he killed sugar mummy in Delta

Published

4 hours ago

May 8, 2024

Trends Admin

Suspect narrates why he killed sugar mummy in Delta

The suspect arrested in connection with the murder of a lady, Glory Akpaku, in Delta State, Akpoveta School, has narrated how he allegedly killed the victim by stabbing her multiple times.

According to an interrogation video shared on X.com by the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, on Monday, the suspect disclosed that the victim was his sugar mummy before her demise.

PUNCH Metro gathered from the video that things went sour between Akpoveta and the late Akpaku over the sum of N100,000 he allegedly kept with the deceased for safekeeping, but which the deceased allegedly refused to give him when he needed the money.

The suspect claimed that he had gone to Akpaku to demand the money but, instead of receiving it, she insisted that she would give it to him after returning from the market.

The suspect narrated further that he threatened the victim to report their relationship to her son, but the victim threatened back that if he did so, she would not give him the money in her custody.

He added that the threat from his alleged lover infuriated him, which led him to stab her with a knife in the neck, hand, and stomach.

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Akpoveta narrated in pidgin English (now translated), “She asked me to save some money with her and that she would return the money to me later. But when I needed the money, she refused to give it to me. Rather, she became angry.

“She asked me to escort her to the market, and I thought she would give me the money, but she insisted that she would give it to me after she returned from the market.

“I told her that I would tell her child, and she said if I told the child, she would not return my money. While she was going in front, I took a knife that I had with me and stabbed her in the neck, hand, and stomach.”

The suspect stated further that he regretted his action but blamed the devil for it.

Reacting to the confession, Edafe urged members of the public to learn from it.

The PPRO wrote, “I share stories like this so we can learn from the mistakes of others. So this suspect allegedly murdered his sugar mummy over her failure to give him back the money she was helping him save. When asked why he did it, he said, ‘NA DEVIL WORK’.”

Meanwhile, giving further updates on the incident, the PPRO noted that the incident happened in April and the suspect would be charged in court upon the conclusion of the ongoing investigation.

“The incident happened in April. He will be charged in court as soon as the investigation is concluded,” Edafe concluded.

Suspect narrates why he killed sugar mummy in Delta

metro

Just in: EFCC arraigns ex-court registrar over N3.8m fraud

Published

4 hours ago

May 8, 2024

Trends Admin

Just in: EFCC arraigns ex-court registrar over N3.8m fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a former Registrar of the Upper Sharia Court 1 Gusau of Zamfara state.

He was arraigned on a two-count charge for allegedly stealing the sum of N3, 837,634 according to the Sokoto zonal directorate office of the commission.

Abubakar Garba Dandare’s arraignment was a sequel to the offence he allegedly committed while as Registrar, Upper Sharia Court 1 Gusau, Zamfara state.

He was arraigned before Justice Bello Muhammad Shinkafi of the Zamfara State High Court.

The anti-graft directorate explained that the problem of Dandare began when a petitioner alleged that he dishonestly misappropriated the money being retention fee paid by the Ministry of Finance Zamfara State for the family of late Alhaji Ladan Mada, who was a contractor to the state government.

Mada, who died on 13th May 2010, was awarded a contract by the Zamfara state government for the construction of two student hostels at Government College, Talata Mafara.

The family heirs approached the Registrar to know why the retention money was not disbursed to the family and the Registrar denied knowledge about the money.

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A committee was constituted in 2022 by the Honourable Grand Khadi of Zamfara state, Dr. Dahiru Muhammad, to investigate the matter and it was established that a UBA cheque countersigned by Judge Almustapha Balarabe and Registrar Abubakar Garba Dandare was given to one Nasir Lawal (a Court Clerk) for the withdrawal of the said amount, which was given to Registrar Dandare, hence the petition.

The committee upon conclusion of investigations directed Dandare to refund the money meant for the heirs of late Alhaji Mada.

Forensic investigations further revealed that the purported signature of Aminu Ladan Mada being bandied by the then Registrar Dandare was fake as it was forged.

However, count one of the charges reads: “That you, Abubakar Garba Dandare, Male, Adult, while being the Registrar Upper Sharia Court 1, Gusau Zamfara State, on or about the 4th day of December 2010, at Gusau, within the Judicial Division of the High Court of Zamfara State, while, being entrusted with the sum of N3,837,634 (Three Million Eight Hundred and Thirty Four Naira) retention fee paid by Ministry of Finance Zamfara State for the family of late Alhaji Ladan Mada, did dishonestly misappropriated the money to your personal use in violation of the mode in which the trust is to be discharged and thereby committed the offence of Criminal Breach of Trust contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code Cap 89 Laws of Northern Nigeria 1963 and punishable under Section 312 of the same law.”

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Before taking his plea, the defence counsel, Bello Umar, drew the attention of the court that the charge under which the suspect was being arraigned was defective; but Prosecution Counsel, P. A. Attah, countered as he cited Court of Appeal decisions along with the ACJA 2015.

Justice Mohammad Shinkafi granted the accused bail with two sureties in the sum of N5 million each.

Accordingly, Justice Shinkafi also directed that a surety must deposit a Certificate of Landed Property within Gusau Metropolis, while both sureties must deposit their passport photographs with the Court.

The Judge further ruled that the accused be remanded with the Nigeria Correctional Services pending the fulfillment of the bail conditions and adjourned the matter to 6th June 2024 for trial.

Just in: EFCC arraigns ex-court registrar over N3.8m fraud

metro

Bride cancels wedding as groom insists on living in family house

Published

4 hours ago

May 8, 2024

Trends Admin

Bride cancels wedding as groom insists on living in family house

Florence Friday, a bride-to-be reportedly called off her wedding over the groom’s refusal to leave his family house.

The wedding, which was slated for Saturday, May 4th, 2024, in Farin Lamba, Vom, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, was canceled before the event took place.

According to reports, Florence, the bride-to-be, asked for N30,000 from her groom-to-be, Morgak James, on March 28th to reserve her wedding gown. Morgak, unable to provide the full sum, offered N15,000 and promised to complete it the following week.

Florence, furious, insisted on receiving the entire sum by the end of the week, threatening to cancel the wedding.

It was reported that two days later, Morgak managed to gather the N30,000 and sent it to Florence to proceed with the booking. However, this resolution led to another condition from the bride-to-be.

It was also gathered that Florence reportedly requested Morgak to move out of his family house and get his apartment.

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According to a source close to the couple, after much deliberation, they agreed to stay in the family home for two months after the wedding before getting their apartment.

This arrangement was agreed upon before Morgak began the introductions, church signature, and payment of the bride price.

However, Morgak was taken aback just before the big day when he received a phone call informing him that his bride-to-be had canceled the wedding because he had not parked out of his family home.

The source further revealed that Morgak had invested significantly in the wedding.

Despite this, Florence’s family had canceled their introduction dates more than three times for a variety of reasons, including visiting a pupil at school.

Our sources also stated that her family once canceled their introduction a day before the wedding.

Speaking on the cancellation of her wedding, Florence said, “I’ve never seen a responsible man who would bring his bride into his family house for his parents to take care of or claim he doesn’t have money while planning his wedding.”