The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, has cautioned politicians and public office holders against sponsoring pilgrimages to the holy lands of Mecca and Jerusalem with stolen public funds.
Abubakar said on Wednesday in Abuja at the opening ceremony of the stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) that God does not accept corrupt offerings.
The traditional cum religious leader emphasised that religious leaders should actively collaborate with anti-corruption agencies to curb systemic graft.
“We, as religious leaders, must fight corruption because God Almighty doesn’t like corruption.
“You cannot steal money and send people to Jerusalem or Mecca with corrupt funds and think God will accept your deeds. God is not corrupt, so you cannot use corrupt money for Hajj or anything else,” he said.
The Sultan urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to deal decisively with corrupt individuals, regardless of their political or religious affiliations.
“Whoever is involved—our brothers, sisters, fathers, or friends should face the law.
“When someone is facing the law, do not tell me he is the pastor of so-and-so church or the chief imam of so-and-so mosque. We do not want to hear that,” he said.
He also urged the EFCC to discharge its duties without political interference.
Highlighting the importance of national unity, Abubakar praised NIREC as a unique platform for fostering dialogue between Christians and Muslims.
He said that such regular interactions were essential for peace, stability, and national development and urged religious leaders to prioritise genuine mutual understanding over mere tolerance.
The Sultan also cautioned clerics to mind their utterances from the pulpit, especially during election periods, urging them to pray for national leaders rather than use religious platforms to incite division or attack public officers.
He paid tribute to the outgoing Executive Secretary of NIREC, Cornelius Omonokhua, commending his eight-year tenure for transforming the council into a vibrant national platform.
