Muslim Leaders in Enugu Distance Themselves from Ani’s Arrest

Muslim leaders in Enugu State have rejected claims linking them to the arrest of Alhaji Musa Ani, stating that reports circulating on social media are inaccurate.

They explained that Ani’s arrest was carried out by law enforcement authorities following petitions alleging financial mismanagement at the Enugu Islamic Centre. According to the leaders, the action followed repeated calls for accountability over the administration of the facility.

Speaking in Enugu, Chairman of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah in the state, Hon. Alhaji Ibrahim Ezeani, said Ani had been asked to provide a detailed account of his stewardship, which spans more than three decades.

He noted that Ani and an associate were taken into custody after failing to adequately respond to concerns raised by members of the Muslim community and a steering committee overseeing the centre.

Ezeani added that the Department of State Services had previously intervened, outlining terms that included a full audit of the centre’s finances.

The Islamic Centre, established in 1958, was described as a shared institution for Muslims across the former Eastern Region, rather than belonging to any specific ethnic group.

However, leaders expressed concern over its current condition, stating that the facility has declined from a functional religious and educational hub into a largely commercial space.

They alleged that parts of the centre are now occupied by artisans and activities considered inconsistent with its intended purpose, while revenues generated over the years remain unaccounted for.

Other community leaders echoed these concerns. President of the Yoruba Muslim Community in Enugu, Alfa Abdul Adeyemi, said the centre was originally built through collective contributions to support both Islamic and Western education.

Similarly, Arewa community leader Alhaji Muhammad Bello dismissed claims of exclusive ownership, attributing the centre’s decline to poor management and lack of transparency.

Chairman of the steering committee, Alhaji Kassim Ofordile Idoko, said a new management structure has been established following the intervention of security agencies, with a mandate to restore the centre.

Chief Imam of Nsukka Central Mosque, Yakubu Abdullahi Omeh, called for government involvement to maintain stability within the Muslim community. He warned that unresolved disputes could deepen divisions.

Omeh traced the ownership dispute to 1993, noting that a government white paper affirmed that the property belongs to the entire Muslim community in Enugu.

The leaders called for a legal resolution to the dispute and reaffirmed their commitment to restoring the Islamic Centre’s religious and educational functions.