THE Jami’ur Rahman Mosque, formerly Masjid Sahaba, has suspended Sheikh Muhammad Bin Uthman from leading prayer and delivering sermon, following his controversial sermon on January 24.
The old site of the mosque, which was headed by Mr Uthman for 24 years, is located a few meters away from the new site, which was officially allocated to a renowned oil marketer, AY Maikifi.
The new site was originally a green area where Muslim congregants monitored and performed Friday and during Eid prayers led from the old site.
After the allocation of the green area by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, Mr Maikifi reportedly met with Bin Uthman and agreed to collapse the administration of the old mosque site into the new one.
But during the controversial sermon, Mr Uthman narrated how he was “short-changed” and relegated in the running of the affairs of the mosque.
He said the mosque trust appointed three more Imams, without appointing him to be the leader.
The January 24 sermon, however, drew the ire of the worshippers, who almost attacked the secretary of the mosque’s board of trustees, Abdulkadir Isawa.
The mosque management, in a letter signed by the director of administration, suspended Sheikh Uthman indefinitely and directed him to hand over all the mosque properties in his possession.
“Kindly refer to the ugly incident that followed your conduct and utterances at the Juma’at Khudba of yesterday the 24th day of January 2025,” the letter read.
“In the cause of your Khudba, you made some derogatory remarks regarding the establishment and the conduct of affairs of this mosque which consequently resulted to a chaotic situation after the Juma’at prayer.
“Consequently, I am directed by the leadership of the Trust as custodians and managers of the affairs of this mosque to convey the Trust’s approval to suspend you as Imam pending the outcome of investigation. A Committee shall be set up by the Trust to review and analyse all video and audio recordings as well as gather oral testimonies from persons that witnessed your Khudba and the resultant chaos and near mob action that followed that incident.
“By this letter, you are directed to handover all properties belonging to the mosque in your possession to the undersigned and you are advised to stay away from the premises or vicinity of the mosque pending this investigation.”
On Monday, the Department Of Security Service, DSS and Council of Ulama, invited Shiekh Uthman and the founder of the new mosque, Mr Maikifi.
The DSS, according to sources, cautioned Sheikh Uthman against inciting sermon that may precipitate a clash or attack in the mosque.
The Council of Ulama, in its intervention, advised Sheikh Uthman to relocate to his former mosque.
It is however unclear if Mr Uthman would accept the advice of the Council of Ulama.