The management of Jami’ur Rahman Mosque has suspended Sheikh Muhammad Bin Uthman from leading prayers and delivering sermons following his controversial remarks during a Friday sermon on January 24.
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The mosque, formerly known as Masjid Sahaba, took the decision after the sermon sparked tension among worshippers, nearly leading to an attack on Abdulkadir Isawa, secretary of the mosque’s board of trustees.
Sheikh Bin Uthman had been at the helm of the old mosque site for 24 years before its administration was merged into the newly built Jami’ur Rahman Mosque, which was allocated to oil marketer AY Maikifi by the administration of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.
During the sermon, Bin Uthman lamented that he had been sidelined in the mosque’s leadership structure despite his long-standing role. He accused the mosque trust of appointing three additional Imams while excluding him from any leadership position.
In response to the turmoil that followed the sermon, the mosque’s management issued a letter, signed by the director of administration, announcing his indefinite suspension. The letter cited his remarks as having led to a “chaotic situation” and instructed him to hand over all mosque property in his possession.
“As custodians and managers of the affairs of this mosque, the Trust has approved your suspension as Imam pending an investigation,” the letter read, adding that a committee would review audio and video evidence alongside eyewitness testimonies.
Meanwhile, the State Security Service (SSS) and the Council of Ulama have intervened in the matter. The SSS reportedly cautioned Bin Uthman against delivering sermons that could incite unrest, while the Council of Ulama advised him to relocate to his former mosque.
