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Deports Controversial Cleric Back to Nigeria
- Safiu Kehinde
Saudi Arabia authorities have stopped Kaduna-based Islamic Scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, from performing the 2025 Hajj and deported him back to Nigeria.
The controversial cleric confirmed this in a post on his Facebook page on Monday.
Narrating his ordeal, Gumi said he was not allowed to enter Medina despite being granted visa by the Saudi government to enter the country for Hajj.
He attributed his rejection by the Middle East country to his view on world politics.
“Due to some reasons related to my views on world politics, the authorities in Saudi Arabia do not want me to be present at Hajj even though they have granted me a visa,” Gumi wrote.
He however expressed his gratitude to the Nigerian authorities for their engagement with Saudi over the issue.
“I am grateful to the authorities in Nigeria who have pledged to engage with the Saudi authorities on this matter.” he added.
According to a post shared on X, Gumi was part of a delegation of scholars sponsored by the Nigerian Hajj Commission (NAHCON) to travel to Saudi Arabia for religious services.
He arrived in Medina with other clerics last Saturday at around 10:30pm on an Umza Air flight, but upon arrival at the city’s airport, Saudi immigration officials prevented the cleric from entering the country.
Following his rejection, the cleric had reportedly return to Nigeria.