NSCIA issues warning against impersonators

The Islamic national body, the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has warned those they termed charlatans who claims to be clerics, disguisng themselves as leaders in various States of the country.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday and signed by the Media Committee of NSCIA, Femi Abbas and made available to journalists, he said, activities of those charlatans were obvious in the South West.

He further said, those elements were surreptitiously affiliating the body with some political parties.

The statement read: “It has come to the notice of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of the Council’s President General and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Dr. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, that some charlatans claiming to be Muslim scholars/clerics, have been parading themselves as leaders of Nigerian Supreme for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) in some States, especially in the South West of Nigeria.

“Through the use of that nomenclature, such charlatans, are said to be clandestinely affiliating themselves to certain political demagogues for the purpose of gaining personal benefits.

“As the apex body for the entire Muslim Ummah in Nigeria, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, it has no branches at the State level and no group or association is authorized to bear that duly registered name in any State.

“That the Muslim Communities in any State in Nigeria, which legally form the components of NSCIA are either called State Muslim Council or State Muslim Community by name and such State Councils or Communities must have duly registered with the apex body and recognized as members of the NSCIA.

“That any group that uses Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) as its name or parades itself as such at the State level, should be considered as a fraudster that can be legally treated as a criminal.

“That the public should therefore disregard any such group as an impersonator or fraudulent impostor that should be reported to the appropriate authorities for necessary action.

“That the State and Local governments throughout the country, as well as Muslim Organizations and corporate bodies should take note of this public information.

“That this message should be disseminated to all Muslim stakeholders in all States of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory through the Social Media or any other means”, it concluded.