SHEIKH GUMI TOOK MY MOROCCAN WIFE FOR 11 MONTHS AFTER WE WENT FOR COUNSELLING, MAN ALLEGES
A Kaduna businessman, Nasiru Musa Idris, has accused prominent Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi of interfering in his marriage and keeping his Moroccan wife away from him for approximately 11 months after he took her to the cleric for counselling.
Gumi has strongly denied the allegation, saying the woman is no longer in Nigeria and has returned to Morocco where she is living with her parents.
The cleric has also threatened to sue Idris for defamation.
HUSBAND EXPLAINS HOW DISPUTE STARTED
Speaking during an interview with RFI Hausa, Idris said he travelled to Morocco to seek the hand of his wife, Khadija Diab, in marriage.
He said the marriage was conducted with the consent of her parents and that the necessary documentation involved Nigerian authorities, including the Nigerian embassy.
According to Idris, his wife had no previous relationship with Gumi before he introduced her to the Islamic scholar.
Idris said he trusted Gumi because of his standing as a religious leader.
The businessman alleges that Gumi later asked him to bring his wife for counselling because she was young.
Idris said he agreed.
But according to him, after taking his wife to the cleric, she stopped answering his telephone calls.
Idris alleges he has been unable to resume living with his wife for approximately 11 months.
DISPUTE OVER MARRIAGE DOCUMENTS
Idris also alleges that the disagreement involved documentation relating to his marriage.
According to him, Gumi wanted him to obtain another marriage certificate from a Sharia Court despite Idris claiming that he already possessed marriage documents from Morocco and Nigeria.
Idris further alleges that Gumi subsequently became involved in efforts to separate the couple.
He has called on authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding what happened to his marriage and his wife's whereabouts.
GUMI DENIES ALLEGATIONS
Sheikh Gumi has rejected Idris's account.
Gumi says the Moroccan woman is no longer in Nigeria and has returned to Morocco where she is living with her parents.
The cleric has declined to discuss the dispute extensively because the matter is reportedly already before a court.
He has also threatened legal action against Idris for defamation.
One of Gumi's aides has similarly rejected the allegation that the cleric kept the woman in his residence.
The aide claims the woman approached Gumi herself seeking assistance over a personal problem.
This account directly contradicts Idris's allegations.
COMPETING CLAIMS
The controversy currently involves two sharply conflicting accounts.
Idris maintains that he trusted Gumi with his wife for counselling and subsequently lost access to her.
Gumi denies taking or unlawfully keeping the woman and says she has since returned to her family in Morocco.
The allegations against Gumi have not been established as fact by a court.
Further evidence and the ongoing legal proceedings may ultimately determine what happened between the businessman, his wife and the cleric.
VNTV
