Outrage in Enugu as Police Detain Islamic Centre Director, Community Leader Over Alleged ₦100m Fraud

By Babatunji Wusu

• 74-year-old Islamic Centre director among those detained
• Muslim community describes allegation as “trumped-up”
• Rights group petitions National Security Adviser

The Enugu State Police Command has come under criticism from members of the Muslim community following the arrest of the Director of the Islamic Centre, Uwani, Alhaji Musa Ani, 74, and the Sarikin Hausawa of Enugu, Alhaji Suleiman Haruna Sule, over an alleged ₦100 million embezzlement.

Both men are reportedly being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). However, community leaders have described the allegation as a “trumped-up” attempt to embarrass Islamic leadership in the state.

According to a petition submitted by the Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN) to the National Security Adviser, the arrests began on Friday, February 27, following a complaint by a tenant, Alhaji Ezeani Ibrahim.

The petition stated that when the Sarikin Hausawa visited the police the following day to seek bail for Ani, he was also detained on the order of the Commissioner of Police.

Members of the Muslim community have rejected the ₦100 million allegation, arguing that the Islamic Centre operates largely on modest donations and has never handled such substantial funds.

As of the time of reporting, the police had not issued a detailed public statement outlining the specifics of the alleged offence.