Renowned Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has taken legal action against two Facebook users at a Kaduna Magistrate Court over alleged criminal conspiracy and defamation, following what he described as a dangerous and malicious social media post made in his name.
The case, filed on Wednesday at the Chief Magistrate Court in Kaduna and marked KMD/685/25, lists George Udom and Bello Isiaka as defendants. Sheikh Gumi is the complainant in the suit.
According to court documents, the two men are accused of publishing a Facebook post on December 23, 2025, which falsely attributed a threatening statement to the cleric. The post allegedly used Sheikh Gumi’s name and photograph to issue a grave threat against Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa. The message claimed that the minister’s family in Zango Kataf, Southern Kaduna, would be harmed if military operations against bandits were not halted.
Sheikh Gumi strongly denied authoring or endorsing the statement, insisting that it was entirely fabricated. Through his lawyer, Suleiman Lere, the cleric described the post as malicious, reckless, and deliberately crafted to portray him as a sponsor of violence and a threat to national security.
In his complaint, Sheikh Gumi said the publication falsely suggested he had threatened a serving public official whose constitutional responsibility includes safeguarding peace and security across the country. He stressed that the allegation severely damaged his reputation as a cleric widely known for advocating peace, dialogue, and restraint in addressing security challenges.
Beyond reputational harm, Sheikh Gumi warned that the false post placed his life at risk. He noted that such claims could provoke attacks against him or trigger unwarranted actions from security agencies and members of the public who might believe the allegation to be true.
The suit cites multiple sections of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law of 2017, under which the alleged offences carry serious penalties if proven in court.
Reacting to the case, Mr Lere said the legal action should serve as a clear warning to social media users who spread false and defamatory content without verifying facts. He warned that hiding behind social media platforms to damage people’s reputations would no longer go unchecked.
The case adds to growing concerns over misinformation and abuse on social media, particularly when false claims carry serious security implications.
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