The family of an Islamic scholar, Sheikh Khalifa Sani Abdulkadir has said something to the effect that he is being detained unnecessarily with report making the rounds that his detention is in connection with the purported failed coup.
For context, Abdulkadir is one of the respected leaders of Fityanul Islam, a Tijaniyya sect in Zaria and across Kaduna State.
Based in Zaria, the cleric according to his wife, Hajiya Ramatu Khalifa Sani Abdulkadir, in an interview she granted Radio France International monitored by our correspondent left home 25 days ago to Abuja to resolve issues related to his bank account which was blocked.
Hajia Abdulkadir said the husband was accompanied by their son, Sunusi, but on getting to Abuja, he was made to know that his account was blocked due to a certain N2m paid into it and he had to report to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission office to explain his connection with the sender.
“After his account was blocked, he asked for the reason and was told it was the EFCC, and that the account could only be reopened if he went to their office.
“After questioning the sheikh, they said there was the sum of N2m that had been sent to him, which they were investigating. He explained that someone linked him to another man who asked for prayers concerning personal life issues, and that he carried out what was requested,” Sanusi who was also on air narrated.
He added that the EFCC later described the matter as a military case saying, “They said it was a military case and informed soldiers. They also said my father had agreed to return the money. The soldiers said they would come and question him, and since that day, for 25 days now, we have not seen him.
“Within these 25 days, they gave him a number and he called to say he was fine. But we still don’t know why he was arrested, where he is or what condition he is in.”
In reaction to the narrative in circulation that the scholar was arrested for allegedly receiving money to pray for people planning a coup, the scholar’s son said, “We don’t know anything about that because nobody informed us, and the authorities have not said anything like that to us.”
