A young Islamic cleric, Alfa Wasiu Jaguma was on Monday arraigned before an Ilorin Magistrates’ court on a two count charge of defamation of character and inciting disturbance.
The accused cleric, 40, who was said to reside at Ipata Oloje Area of Ilorin was docked before Magistrate Fatima Binta Soliu for allegedly defaming the personality of late Shekh Mohammed kamalu-deen (Al-Adabiyy) in a sermon he delivered on Feb 14, 2018.
Prosecuting Police officer, Insp Mathew Ologbonsaiye told the court that Kamaldeen Saliu Olarewaju and Muhammed Habeeb Nababa of N0 19 and 19, Kamaldeen Street Okekere area Ilorin respectively reported the matter to ‘C’ Division Police station.
The prosecutor added the accused complaint was that the accused came to their area on the said date and held an Islamic preaching where he used inciting words against the leader/founder of Al-Adabiyy group of Muslims Society, late Shiek Tajuwadab and Kamaldeen Sofiyulahi.
He said the preaching caused uneasy tension within Adangba and its environs.
“Investigation conducted revealed that Alfa Wasiu Jaguma admitted conducting the lecture using vulgar/abusive words against the revered scholars,” the FIR said.
According to the prosecutor, said the offences contravened sections 114 and 392 of the Penal Code.
When the charge was translated to the accused in Yoruba language, he said he understood the charges, but pleaded not guilty.
Ologbonsaiye told the court that investigation was still on going into the matter and urged the court to refuse bail so that the accused will not tamper with police investigation.
Counsel to the accused person, Usman Omotoso urged the court to admit his client to bail as the offences for which he was being tried were bail-able.
In her ruling, Mrs Soliu granted bail to the accused person in the sum of N100, 000 and two sureties in the like sum.
She said that one of the sureties must be a civil servant on grade level 16 while the second should be a responsible family member and that both sureties must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.
She later adjourned the matter till March 7 for hearing.
Shekh Mohammed Kamalu-deen, the first Mufty of Ilorin, a revered cleric in his lifetime came under attack by a what some of the disciples of the late cleric refer to as leftist preacher when he allegedly refers to the deceased cleric as a man without legacies.
An eyewitness at the scene said that when the numerous students and scholars that passed through the departed cleric heard what was said against their mentor, they wanted to take laws into their hands but the timely intervention of men from ‘C’ division police station saved the day.
Narrating her experience, the eye witness said that it s unheard of that any cleric would speak against such a highly revered cleric in public and was almost lynched but for the police quick intervention by firing teargas into the air to disperse gathering protesters.
Kamalu-deen was a member of the Federal republic, MFR, Order of the Federal Republic, OFR as well as holder of Egypt national award, ORSA, also, he is a honourary Doctor Literature of the University of Ilorin, Nigeria.
Shaykh Muhammad Kamalud-deen Habeebullah Al-adaby founded the Ansarul Islam Society of Nigeria aside being the father of the third Mufti of Ilorin and teacher to Second Mufti of Ilorin, Salaudeen Apaokagi aside his many accomplishments not mentioned.
Though the presiding Magistrate has adjourned the hearing, the matter remains a source of tension in Ilorin metropolis and informed sources said that the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari is already wading into the matter to prevent the outbreak of violence within the two Islamic sects.
At the court premises, clerics on both sides were careful in dealing with each other as not to further charge the already charged atmosphere as they exchange words at each other.
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