A Kaduna-based man, Nasiru Musa Idris, has accused Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmad Gumi of allegedly interfering in his marriage and keeping his Moroccan wife away from him for about 11 months.
Daily Trust reports that Idris made the allegation while speaking about the bitter dispute involving the cleric and his wife.
Idris said he met Gumi at a pharmacy on Isa Kaita Road, Kaduna, while he was with members of his family, and later introduced his Moroccan wife to the Islamic scholar.
According to him, his wife had no prior connection with anyone in Nigeria before their marriage, which he said was contracted in Morocco with the consent of her parents and the involvement of relevant authorities.
Idris said the problem began after Gumi allegedly asked him to obtain another marriage certificate from a Sharia Court, despite the couple already having marriage documents issued in Morocco and Nigeria.
He claimed he presented documents obtained from the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian embassy in Morocco, as well as other supporting documents, but allegedly refused to obtain the additional certificate suggested by Gumi.
Idris alleged that Gumi subsequently went to a Sharia Court in Malali and obtained a marriage certificate despite his objection.
He further accused the cleric of attempting to facilitate the separation of his marriage and frustrating efforts by security agencies to investigate what he described as his wife’s disappearance.
The aggrieved husband called on Gumi to honour a police invitation so that the matter could be investigated.
Idris alleged that he had not had access to his wife for about 11 months after taking her to Gumi for counselling.
He said he had trusted the cleric and taken his wife to him after Gumi reportedly advised that she needed counselling because of her age.
However, Idris claimed that his wife stopped answering his calls shortly after.
He also rejected claims that his wife’s mother travelled to Nigeria and took her daughter back to Morocco, insisting that he personally handled the documentation that enabled his wife to travel to Nigeria.
Gumi Denies Allegation, Threatens Lawsuit
Gumi denied the allegations and threatened to sue Idris for defamation.
Speaking to Daily Trust, the cleric declined to go into details, saying the matter was already before a court.
Gumi, however, said the Moroccan woman had since returned to Morocco and was happily staying with her parents.
He insisted that he would take legal action against Idris over the allegations.
Gumi’s position was also supported by Malam Nasiru Ayuba, popularly known as Dan Agaji, chairman of the Volunteers of Sultan Bello Mosque in Kaduna and the cleric’s personal assistant on special assignment.
Ayuba dismissed the claim that Gumi kept Idris’ wife in his house, saying the woman had approached the cleric herself for assistance.
He said Gumi only intervened after the woman sought his help over a personal matter and expressed concern about what might happen to her if nobody assisted her.
According to Ayuba, Gumi subsequently took up the matter through the court.
He accused Idris of trying to damage the cleric’s reputation on social media and urged Gumi’s supporters to allow the court to determine the matter.
Ayuba added that the cleric’s camp had records relating to the dispute but would not disclose private information unless circumstances made it necessary.
The dispute has now taken a legal dimension, with Idris demanding a police investigation while Gumi has indicated that he will pursue a defamation case against him.I can also make this more dramatic and punchy, with a stronger tabloid intro and more attention-grabbing subheads if you want.
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