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Steer clear of Imam Office, MURIC tells Soun

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Professor Ishaq Akintola

Steer clear of Imam Office, MURIC tells Soun

An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has warned the newly crowned Soun of Ogbomosho, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, to steer clear of the office of the Chief Imam of the city in the interest of peace and tranquility. MURIC alleged that Muslims in the city have accused the Soun of making subterranean moves to replace the Chief Imam with his own favourite candidate.

 The warning was handed down on Monday, 19th February, 2024 in a press statement issued by the Executive Director of the faith-based non-governmental organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 “Muslims of Ogbomosho have reported that the new Soun, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, is already making surreptitious moves to remove the Chief Imam of Ogbomosho. He plans to replace him with a palace puppet. Already, there is palpable tension in the city of Ogbomosho due to this ugly development.

 “We like to remind the Soun that first and foremost, as a Christian, he cannot pick an Imam for Muslims. Apart from being a Christian, kings have no business in the choice of Imams. It is the prerogative of Islamic scholars in that city. The king’s duty is to cooperate with any Imam chosen by the Muslims of any city in maintaining peace and tranquility. Therefore, it is wrong for the Soun to poke his nose into the affairs of Muslims.

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 “Besides, the king will be acting ultra vires if he attempts to replace the Chief Imam. Nothing in the laws of Oyo State, or any state in the South West for that matter, empowers the Oba to remove or replace an Imam. Any such attempt will be illegal, illegitimate, unlawful and unconstitutional. The days of l’etat cest moi a la Louis XIV are over. We are in a democracy, Yoruba Muslims will not pander to royal excesses.

 “We hereby repeat inter alia our press statement of 8th January, 2024 captioned ‘Stop Influence of Kings on Yoruba Imams – MURIC’ (https:muslimrightsmuric.blogspot.com/2024/01 stop-influence-of-kings-on-yoruba-imams.html?m=1; https://theeagleonline.com.ng/stop-influence-of-kings-on-yoruba-imams-muric/; https://theglittersonline.com.ng/akintola-13/; https://muslimnews.com.ng/2024/01/09/stop-influence-of-kings-on-yoruba-imams-muric-says-practice-traceable-to-some-imamate-tussle-in-southwest/).

“We have seen this in many Yoruba cities particularly whenever an Imam dies and a new one is about to be appointed. The kings often influence the choice of the new Imam particularly where the post is competitive. It is also the king who gives the Imam the staff of office.

“This is an erroneous, archaic and obnoxious practice because the king has no role whatsoever to play in the imamate under the Shari’ah, particularly where Islam is not used as the form of government (a non-Islamic State). This is different from what applies in an Islamic state where Islamic political thought is the state policy and the khalifah is equally the Imam.

“The greatest danger in this is that the Oba (king) may impose a Muslim favourite who has no appropriate prerequisites for the post of Imam on the Muslims. This has dire consequences. Already, some crisis brewing in some towns in Yorubaland can be traced to this ugly phenomenon.

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 “It is even worse where the king is not a Muslim. A Christian or traditionalist as king dictating to the Imam or influencing decisions and steps to be taken by Muslims is a complete anomaly in Islam. It is absurd, illogical, irrational and therefore unacceptable. Many mosques have been ordered closed by non-Muslim kings using the most trivial and ridiculous pretext.

 “We will use every legitimate means at our disposal to stop this crude, divisive and selfish attempt to erode the freedom of Yoruba Muslims to choose their own leaders. It is sheer monachical autocracy characteristic of the ancient practice of African traditional rulers who sold their subjects to European slave masters for ordinary mirrors. The question is for how much is the Soun selling the Muslims of Ogbomosho to fishers of men?

 “We will not stand akimbo while the Soun reenacts this inhuman and sadistic practice of the imperialists. We therefore call on the Soun of Ogbomosho to leave the Chief Imam alone. Any further pursuit of this diabolical mission will be regarded as a declaration of confrontation with the Ogbomosho Muslim community. A word is enough for the wise.

 Meanwhile we appeal to the Ogbomosho Muslim community, particularly the already agitated Muslim youths to remain calm and law abiding.”

#ObaGhandi

#LeaveChiefImamAlone

 Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

Steer clear of Imam Office, MURIC tells Soun

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Woman abducts 5-yr-old boy returning from Lagos mosque

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January 15, 2025

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Woman abducts 5-yr-old boy returning from Lagos mosque

A woman alleged to have abducted a five-year-old boy, Mohammed Naziru, who was returning from the mosque in the company of his eight-year-old sister, last week Friday, in the Iwaya area of Lagos, last Friday, has been arrested by the Police.

The woman, whose identity could not be immediately ascertained, was said to have covered herself with a hijab, apparently to appear as one of the women who had gone to observe the Jumat prayer in the community mosque.

She was said to have given the older sibling N500 to buy yoghurt worth N150 for her, while she held on to Naziru.

However, when the girl returned, the woman had disappeared with her brother, Naziru.

A search around the community yielded no results until Monday, January 13, 2024, when the woman resurfaced in the community. She was identified by Naziru’s eight-year-old sister as the alleged kidnapper. The suspect, as gathered, took to her heels but was caught by a mob who descended on her.

But for the swift arrival of policemen from the Sabo division, she would have been lynched.

The distraught father of the three-year-old boy, Alhaji Idris Adamu, lamented that his son’s whereabouts were still unknown, as the woman had refused to disclose where she kept him.

To make matters worse, she allegedly pretended to be mentally deranged upon arriving at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), where she was transferred.

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According to the abducted child’s father, , “I got a call at about 1 pm last Friday, informing me that my son had been kidnapped. I rushed to the house and found a mob descending on her. I begged them not to kill her because her death won’t bring my son back. I reported the matter to the Sabo Police Division, and they brought a vehicle to convey her to the station. But because of the crowd that besieged the police station, the Police took the woman to SCID.

“I prayed fervently every day for the safety of my son and for the woman to be arrested. Indeed, God heard my prayer. The woman walked into the community, covering herself with the hijab, and was identified. Immediately she sighted my wife, she started running, and when she was caught, she said she wasn’t the one who kidnapped our son without being asked.

“The woman is not mad; she is only pretending. When she was apprehended, we found some pieces of paper in her possession where she wrote an address where they should keep the boy and the injection they should give to him to put him to sleep. She also wrote down many telephone numbers on some sheets of paper found in the multi-coloured purse that was found with her.

“All I want is my son. She should tell us where she kept him so that we can go get him before any harm befalls him”.
Besides, the 40-year-old man also wondered why the woman, who had braids on as at the time of arrest, suddenly loosened them to change her looks to that of someone who had not combed her hair for months.

He therefore appealed to detectives at the SCID to do all they could, as fast as possible, to extract the truth that would lead to the rescue of his son from where the suspect kept him.

Meanwhile, detectives at the SCID said they would take the woman to a psychiatrist’s home to ascertain her mental state, as part of the investigation into the matter. It was also gathered that a man who initially claimed to be her father when the mob descended on her was picked by the police but later released.

Woman abducts 5-yr-old boy returning from Lagos mosque

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Final-year Akwa Poly student hacked to death in his room

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11 hours ago

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January 15, 2025

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Timfon John
Police Public Relations Officer, Akwa Ibom State Command, ASP Timfon John

Final-year Akwa Poly student hacked to death in his room

A final-year student of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, identified simply as Prince, was shot dead in his room by suspected cultists on Wednesday.

The tragic incident occurred around 1:00 a.m. at Prince’s residence on Abuja Street in Ikot Osurua. Prince, a Higher National Diploma (HND2) Computer Science student, had recently completed his final exams and was preparing to defend his project.

According to eyewitness accounts, the gunmen stormed the compound, went directly to Prince’s room, and shot him in the abdomen. His girlfriend, who was present during the attack, raised the alarm after the assailants fled, drawing the attention of neighbors.

A neighbor, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that Prince was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment but succumbed to his injuries. “The gunmen didn’t steal anything or rob anyone in the compound. They just shot him and left. He was popular in the neighborhood and active in his church choir. We were shocked at how he died,” the source said.

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The neighbor recalled seeing Prince with his girlfriend the previous day, noting their cheerful demeanor. “I saw them around 4 p.m. on Tuesday. They both wore face masks, and when I joked about it, we all laughed. It’s hard to believe he’s gone,” the source added.

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command confirmed the incident. DSP Timfon John, the Police Public Relations Officer, stated that the area had experienced robbery and cult-related activities.

“Information at our disposal indicates that there were robbery and cult operations in the area. They invaded and robbed, during which a student was shot. Investigation is ongoing,” DSP John said.

The killing of Prince has raised concerns about the safety of students and residents in Ikot Osurua.

Community members have called for heightened security measures to prevent further tragedies.

 

Final-year Akwa Poly student hacked to death in his room

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ICPC arraigns boundary commission director for forgery, abuse of office

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11 hours ago

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January 15, 2025

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Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu

ICPC arraigns boundary commission director for forgery, abuse of office

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned the Director of Administration and Supplies at the National Boundary Commission, Aishatu Abdullahi, and the Assistant Chief Accountant, Ghaji Rahila, over allegations of forgery and abuse of office.

The two were charged on Tuesday before Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja.

In a five-count charge, the ICPC accused the defendants of conspiring to allow the first defendant, Ghaji Rahila, to participate in the senior promotion exercise and secure her confirmation to the rank of Chief Accountant (Level 14) at the National Boundary Commission while also working for Galaxy Backbone Limited.

According to an ICPC spokesperson, Demola Bakare, the commission also accused Rahila of forging an admission letter from Carnegie Mellon University in Rwanda, purportedly addressed to her husband, Suleiman Mishara, in order to support her application for a leave of absence from the National Boundary Commission.

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The statement read, “That you, Ghaji Rahila (F) and Aishatu Abdullahi (F), sometime in 2021 or thereabouts in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, as Assistant Chief Accountant and Director of Administration & Supplies of the National Boundary Commission, respectively, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit an offence, to wit: conferring unfair advantage by allowing Ghaji Rahila to participate in the senior staff promotion exercise at the National Boundary Commission while Galaxy Backbone Limited simultaneously employed her. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26(1)(c) and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”

Bakare stated that the prisoners pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.

He stated that the ICPC’s counsel, Fatimah Bardi, requested a trial date, while the defendants’ counsel, Akinyemi Aremu and Adebayo Eniwaye, sought bail on their behalf.

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Bakare stated that Justice Halilu granted the defendants bail on the condition that they produce two sureties each, who must be Abuja residents and civil officers holding the rank of director in any federal parastatal.

He said the judge ruled that the sureties must also submit evidence of their initial employment and latest promotion, sign letters of promise to ensure the defendants appear in court during the trial, and agree to incarceration should they fail to bring the defendants in court.

“Such directors must sign letters of undertaking to produce the defendants in court throughout their trial and agree to be put in prison upon failure to produce the first and second defendants in court.

“The said defendants shall also deposit their travelling documents with the registrar of the court. In the event that they (defendants) fail to meet these conditions, they should be remanded in Suleja Prison till the next adjourned date, “Bakare quoted the judge as saying.

The case was adjourned until March 17, 2025, for the commencement of the hearing.

ICPC arraigns boundary commission director for forgery, abuse of office

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