The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has warned politicians and public office holders against using allegedly stolen public funds to sponsor pilgrimages to Mecca and Jerusalem, stressing that acts of worship cannot legitimise corrupt wealth.
The Sultan spoke on Wednesday in Abuja at the opening of a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), themed “Shared Sacred Flourishing in Nigeria.”
Abubakar urged religious leaders to take a more active role in the fight against corruption, saying faith communities should work closely with anti-graft agencies to address corruption and promote accountability.
According to him, corruptly obtained funds should not be used to finance religious activities in the hope of receiving divine acceptance.
The Sultan also called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to prosecute individuals suspected of corruption without discrimination based on political, religious or personal affiliations.
He urged the commission to resist political interference and ensure that anyone found culpable faces the law.
The traditional ruler further challenged Christian and Muslim leaders to strengthen cooperation and move beyond mere tolerance of one another.
He described NIREC as an important platform for promoting understanding between Nigeria’s two major faith communities, stressing that deeper mutual understanding was necessary for peace, stability and national development.
The Sultan also cautioned clerics against using their pulpits to inflame political tensions, particularly during election periods.
He urged religious leaders to pray for national leaders rather than use religious platforms to attack public officials or promote division.
At the event, the Chairman of the Interfaith Anti-Corruption Advisory Committee, Adedibu Ojerinde, presented an overview of the Interfaith Anti-Corruption Manuals Project, describing it as a joint initiative involving the EFCC and religious leaders.
Ojerinde said the project was designed to mobilise churches and mosques in promoting ethical conduct and fighting corruption through sermons based on biblical and Qur’anic teachings.
He said the manuals, first inaugurated in 2014 and re-inaugurated in January 2024, had been updated to address emerging challenges including youth involvement in cybercrime and money laundering vulnerabilities within religious institutions.
He noted that the handover of the manuals to NIREC marked a transition from developing the materials to implementing them, with religious leaders encouraged to incorporate anti-corruption messages into Friday sermons and Sunday services.
The meeting brought together Christian and Muslim leaders, government officials, security representatives and members of the media.
