The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has warned politicians and public officials against funding pilgrimages to Mecca and Jerusalem with stolen public funds.
Abubakar gave the warning on Wednesday in Abuja at the opening ceremony of a stakeholders’ meeting organized by the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, NIREC, themed “Shared Sacred Flourishing in Nigeria.”
The Sultan said religious leaders must work with anti-corruption agencies to tackle corruption, stressing that corrupt funds could not be used to seek divine favour.
“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.
Abubakar urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to prosecute corrupt individuals regardless of their political or religious affiliations.
“Whoever is involved—our brothers, sisters, fathers, or friends should face the law,” he said.
He also called on the EFCC to perform its duties without political interference.
The Sultan described NIREC as an important platform for promoting dialogue between Christians and Muslims, saying regular engagement was essential to peace, stability and national development.
He urged religious leaders to pursue genuine mutual understanding rather than mere tolerance.
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Abubakar also cautioned clerics against inflammatory statements from the pulpit, particularly during election periods, urging them to pray for national leaders instead of using religious platforms to attack public officials or promote division.
He commended the outgoing Executive Secretary of NIREC, Prof. Cornelius Omonokhua, for his eight-year tenure and contributions to the council.
The Sultan further urged participants to openly discuss national issues and avoid spreading rumours in their communities.
Prof. Adedibu Ojerinde, Chairman of the Interfaith Anti-Corruption Advisory Committee, said the Interfaith Anti-Corruption Manuals Project was designed to mobilize religious leaders in the fight against corruption.
He said the manuals, anchored in biblical and Qur’anic teachings, were expanded to address contemporary challenges, including youth vulnerabilities, cybercrime and money laundering within religious institutions.
Ojerinde said the formal handover of the manuals to NIREC marked a shift from publication to implementation and called for anti-corruption messages to be incorporated into Friday sermons and Sunday services.
The meeting was attended by Christian and Muslim leaders, government officials, security representatives and media practitioners.
NAN
