A Kaduna-based businessman, Nasiru Musa Idris, has accused Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi of interfering in his marriage and keeping his Moroccan wife away from him for about 11 months.
Idris made the allegation during an interview with RFI Hausa, claiming that he took his wife, Khadija Diab, to Gumi for counselling after the cleric offered to help address issues within their marriage.
According to Idris, he married Khadija in October 2024 after travelling to Morocco to seek her hand in marriage. He said the union was conducted with the consent of her parents and involved the necessary documentation from Nigerian and Moroccan authorities.
He explained that the couple lived together in Kaduna until September 2025, when Gumi allegedly advised that his wife should come to him for counselling. Idris said he trusted Gumi because of his position as an Islamic scholar and subsequently took Khadija to the cleric.
However, Idris alleged that after leaving his wife at Gumi’s residence, she stopped responding to his calls and he was unable to bring her back home.
He further claimed that Gumi became involved in the marital dispute and insisted that he obtain another marriage certificate from a Sharia Court, despite having documents relating to the marriage from Morocco and Nigeria.
Idris also alleged that attempts by security agencies to investigate the situation were frustrated. He called on Gumi to honour a police invitation, saying an investigation would establish what actually happened.
The businessman disputed claims that Khadija’s mother travelled to Nigeria and took her daughter back to Morocco, maintaining that he had personally handled the documents that enabled her to travel to Nigeria.
Gumi, however, has denied the allegations. The cleric said Khadija had already left Nigeria and was currently in Morocco with her parents. He also threatened to take Idris to court for defamation, noting that he would not discuss the matter extensively because it was already before a court.
Gumi’s personal assistant, Nasiru Ayuba, also rejected the allegation that the cleric kept the woman in his home. Ayuba said Khadija had approached Gumi herself for assistance over a personal matter and that the cleric only intervened to help her.
The allegations and denials remain contested, with the matter now subject to legal proceedings.
