Sheikh Gumi Drags Two Social Media Users to Court Over Alleged Terrorism Post

Prominent Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has instituted legal action against two individuals before a Chief Magistrate Court in Kaduna State over alleged false and inciting social media posts that linked him to terrorism threats.

The suit, marked KMD 685 25, was filed on December 24, 2025. The defendants were identified as George Udom and Bello Isiaka.

According to court documents, the defendants allegedly published a Facebook post on December 23, 2025, which they falsely attributed to Sheikh Gumi. The post reportedly contained a threat against the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, retired, over ongoing military operations targeting bandits across the country.

The alleged post claimed that if the Minister of Defence failed to stop the military offensive against bandits, his entire family in Zango Kataf, Southern Kaduna, would be eliminated. The publication, according to the claimant, was designed to incite fear and portray him as a supporter of violent activities.

Through his legal representatives, Sheikh Gumi denied authoring or endorsing the statement. His legal team, led by Suleiman Danlami Lere, argued that the defendants deliberately used his name and photograph to falsely depict him as a sponsor of terrorism and a threat to national security.

The application for criminal summons was filed pursuant to relevant provisions of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law 2017, which criminalises the publication of false and defamatory information capable of inciting public disorder.

Sheikh Gumi told the court that the publication endangered his personal safety and severely damaged his reputation as a cleric known for preaching peace and dialogue. He said the posts portrayed him as a troublemaker and exposed him to potential retaliation from security agencies and members of the public who might believe the false claims.

In a statement issued by his lawyers, they warned social media users against the spread of false, defamatory, and misleading content. The legal team stressed that individuals who misuse social media platforms to engage in character assassination would face the full weight of the law.

They added that the era of hiding behind mobile devices to damage the reputations of others was over, noting that the case should serve as a deterrent to those who spread unverified and inciting information online.

The Chief Magistrate Court is yet to fix a date for the arraignment of the defendants, as investigations into the matter continue.