Renowned Islamic cleric Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Abubakar Gumi has approached the Chief Magistrate Court of Kaduna State, seeking criminal action against two Facebook users over an alleged defamatory publication and death threat linked to Nigeria’s Minister of Defence. The legal action follows claims that the defendants falsely attributed a threatening statement to Sheikh Gumi, portraying him as the author of a violent warning directed at the defence minister and his family.
Court documents obtained by SaharaReporters show that the application was filed at the Chief Magistrate Court sitting on Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Kaduna. The matter, listed as Case No: KD Km 1685725, names Sheikh Gumi as the complainant, while George Udom and Bello Isiaka are listed as defendants. Sheikh Gumi is seeking the issuance of a criminal direct complaint summons against the two individuals.
According to the application addressed to the Registrar of the court, the complaint arose from a Facebook post allegedly published by the defendants on December 23, 2025. The post, described as a “Breaking News” item, reportedly stated that if the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, did not stop military operations against bandits, his entire family in Zangon Kataf, Southern Kaduna, would be eliminated.
The filing further identified the Facebook accounts allegedly used to publish the statement, including the usernames and partial phone details associated with George Udom and Bello Isiaka. Sheikh Gumi told the court that his photograph was attached to the post, leading many social media users to believe that he authored the statement. He said he received numerous calls from people who assumed he had issued the threat against the defence minister.
Sheikh Gumi argued that the publication falsely portrayed him as someone who threatened a public servant, specifically the Minister of Defence, whose constitutional responsibility includes maintaining peace and security across Nigeria, including Kaduna State. He maintained that the post not only damaged his reputation but also posed serious security implications by linking him to a potential act of violence.
Describing himself as an Islamic scholar widely known for preaching peace in Nigeria and beyond, Sheikh Gumi stated that the publication painted him as a troublemaker capable of inciting unrest and disrupting the fragile peace in Kaduna State. He further warned that the post positioned him as a prime suspect should any attack occur against the defence minister’s family or in Southern Kaduna, thereby exposing him to possible danger and state scrutiny.
According to the court filing, the alleged actions of the defendants violate several provisions of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law 2017, including sections relating to criminal conspiracy, attempted public disturbance, and criminal defamation. Sheikh Gumi’s legal team argued that the publication was not only defamatory but also capable of inciting fear, unrest, and public disorder.
The application, dated December 24, 2025, was signed by Sheikh Gumi’s lawyers from the firm of Suleiman D. Lere & Co., Kaduna. The legal team includes Suleiman Danlami Lere Esq., Ibrahim Ahmad Esq., I.H. Yahya Esq., and Saratu Nura Hassan Esq.
As of the time of reporting, the Chief Magistrate Court has not fixed a date for the hearing of the application or for the issuance of the criminal summons. The case adds to ongoing debates around misinformation, misuse of social media, and the legal consequences of publishing unverified and potentially dangerous content in Nigeria.
The development also comes amid heightened national sensitivity over security operations, online hate speech, and the spread of false information capable of inflaming tensions or undermining public confidence in security institutions.
Renowned Islamic cleric Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Abubakar Gumi has approached the Chief Magistrate Court of Kaduna State, seeking criminal action against two Facebook users over an alleged defamatory publication and death threat linked to Nigeria’s Minister of Defence. The legal action follows claims that the defendants falsely attributed a threatening statement to Sheikh Gumi, portraying him as the author of a violent warning directed at the defence minister and his family.
Court documents obtained by SaharaReporters show that the application was filed at the Chief Magistrate Court sitting on Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Kaduna. The matter, listed as Case No: KD Km 1685725, names Sheikh Gumi as the complainant, while George Udom and Bello Isiaka are listed as defendants. Sheikh Gumi is seeking the issuance of a criminal direct complaint summons against the two individuals.
According to the application addressed to the Registrar of the court, the complaint arose from a Facebook post allegedly published by the defendants on December 23, 2025. The post, described as a “Breaking News” item, reportedly stated that if the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, did not stop military operations against bandits, his entire family in Zangon Kataf, Southern Kaduna, would be eliminated.
The filing further identified the Facebook accounts allegedly used to publish the statement, including the usernames and partial phone details associated with George Udom and Bello Isiaka. Sheikh Gumi told the court that his photograph was attached to the post, leading many social media users to believe that he authored the statement. He said he received numerous calls from people who assumed he had issued the threat against the defence minister.
Sheikh Gumi argued that the publication falsely portrayed him as someone who threatened a public servant, specifically the Minister of Defence, whose constitutional responsibility includes maintaining peace and security across Nigeria, including Kaduna State. He maintained that the post not only damaged his reputation but also posed serious security implications by linking him to a potential act of violence.
Describing himself as an Islamic scholar widely known for preaching peace in Nigeria and beyond, Sheikh Gumi stated that the publication painted him as a troublemaker capable of inciting unrest and disrupting the fragile peace in Kaduna State. He further warned that the post positioned him as a prime suspect should any attack occur against the defence minister’s family or in Southern Kaduna, thereby exposing him to possible danger and state scrutiny.
According to the court filing, the alleged actions of the defendants violate several provisions of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law 2017, including sections relating to criminal conspiracy, attempted public disturbance, and criminal defamation. Sheikh Gumi’s legal team argued that the publication was not only defamatory but also capable of inciting fear, unrest, and public disorder.
The application, dated December 24, 2025, was signed by Sheikh Gumi’s lawyers from the firm of Suleiman D. Lere & Co., Kaduna. The legal team includes Suleiman Danlami Lere Esq., Ibrahim Ahmad Esq., I.H. Yahya Esq., and Saratu Nura Hassan Esq.
As of the time of reporting, the Chief Magistrate Court has not fixed a date for the hearing of the application or for the issuance of the criminal summons. The case adds to ongoing debates around misinformation, misuse of social media, and the legal consequences of publishing unverified and potentially dangerous content in Nigeria.
The development also comes amid heightened national sensitivity over security operations, online hate speech, and the spread of false information capable of inflaming tensions or undermining public confidence in security institutions.
