* Police invites Baba Adinni, others over dispute
* Secretary asks Sanwo-Olu, Hamzat to intervene
Imminent leadership crisis is brewing at the Jamat-ul-Muslimeen Council of Nigeria (otherwise known as Lagos Central Mosque) which may disrupt the peaceful ambiance of the coming Ramadan fast, if urgent steps are not taken to douse the tension and salvage the situation.
The internal dispute bordering on leadership tussle between the Chief Imam of the Lagos Central Mosque, Sheikh (Engr.) Sulaimon Abou-Nolla and the Baba Adinni of Lagos, Alhaji Sikiru MacFoy, which began like a smoke, has degenerated into a legal battle with the involvement of the police authority.
A lawsuit filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos, presided over by Hon. Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa, has pitched Alhaji Femi Okunnu, SAN, and Alhaji Saheed Yemi Lawal, against several defendants, including Alhaji Sikiru Alabi-Macfoy and Alhaji A. A. Mustapha.
The legal challenge centers on a dispute over the appointment of Alhaji Macfoy as Baba Adinni and the overall management of the Mosque’s affairs.
The court has thus ordered the defendants to appear on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, to address the plaintiffs’ requests for interim injunctions and the appointment of interim administrators.
The internal strife took a new turn on Wednesday, February 20, when the Chief Imam of the Lagos Central Mosque reportedly visited the Mosque in company of the officers of the Nigerian Police Force and disrupted the ongoing mosque activities.
Muslim News gathered that some of the executive members of the Central Mosque, including the Baba Adinni received invitation on Thursday, February 21 to appear at the Kester police post, Oluwole, Lagos Island.
Others included in the invitation allegedly instituted on the order of the Chief Imam over the internal crisis are Alhaji Mustapha Damola, Alhaji Rafiu Ebiti, Alhaji Apatira (other name not provided), Pa Oladosu Fashola, among others.
One of the members who spoke with Muslim News on Friday, February 22 under anonymity confirmed the invitation but said, “We don’t know the basis for the invitation yet. They only said the Chief Imam made a complain without telling us the nature. But I guess it has to do with the ongoing insubordination of the Chief Imam and it’s being backed by the Oba of Lagos and Alhaji Okunnu.”
Police confirms invitation
The police officer in charge also confirmed the development to Muslim News on Friday morning, but immediately said the matter has been moved to Adeniji Adele Police Station, Lagos Island, on the order of Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu.
According to him, First, I commend you for reaching out to me. That’s the essence of journalism and essence of fair-hearing and equity.”
Speaking further, he said, “There is a complain from the Chief Imam against the Baba Adinni and others. I served them invitation letter yesterday (Thursday) to report by 10:00am today so that they can meet at the DPO office at Ebute-Ero, Lagos Island.
“But in the evening of yesterday, another scenario played out. When I called the Chief Imam to notify him about the meeting today. He however said the Oba of Lagos has intervened and directed that Adeniji Adele Police Station DPO to handle the matter. Immediately I alerted the person at the Baba Adinni Secretariat about change of plan.”
Dares Board, plans parallel Ramadan programme
The Mosque Executive Council also accused the Chief Imam of orchestrating a parallel programmes during Ramadan, directly clashing with the officially scheduled event organised by the Mosque’s Mission Board.
In a separate letter signed by its General-Secretary, Alhaji Lookman Seriki and addressed to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his Deputy, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, the Council expressed trepidation over the Chief Imam’s actions, describing such as strange and an unbelievable acts impunity unprecedented in the history of the Mosque.
They argued that the Chief Imam’s move is a violation of established tradition and the Mosque’s constitution, which designates the Mission Board as responsible for organising the Annual Ramadan Lecture.
The Council further accused the Chief Imam of using the Mosque’s official letterhead without authorisation for his parallel event.
The Council is therefore appealing to prominent Muslims and stakeholders to intervene and prevent what they fear could snowball into a serious crisis within the Mosque, if not well managed.
They are urging the Chief Imam to cancel the parallel lecture and collaborate with the Mission Board for a unified Ramadan Programme.
They emphasised their commitment to peace and harmony but expressed deep concerns that the Chief Imam’s actions are divisive and disrespectful to the Mosque’s long-standing traditions.
“It has come to our notice that the Chief Imam is already neck-deep in the plan to carryout a parallel “Annual Ramadan Lecture” at the very Lagos Central Mosque, on the Central Mosque, the only body with the responsibility to arrange Ramadan Lecture, has same Saturday, March 1st, 2025 and the same time that the Mission Board of the Lagos scheduled and communicated to many participating stakeholders.
“The strange practices of the Chief Imam are rather blatant. The penchant habits of his, done without the knowledge or the Executive Council of the Lagos Central Mosque. The Chief Imam has no authority to meet when he came on Board as the Chief Imam of our prestigious Lagos Central Mosque.
“For, it has, definitely, never been part of the functions of any Chief Imam of Lagos Central to singlehandedly use the Lagos Central Mosque’s official letterhead nor direct others to use.
“These duties have always been the prerogative of the Mission Board in collaboration with Mosque to plan or coordinate Annual Ramadan Lecture and the Annual Rotational Tafsir.
“We, thus, implore Your Excellency, Sir, to use your good office to call on the Chief Imam to eschew all divisive actions and work collaboratively with others in the Jama’atul Muslimeen Council for accelerated progress of Islam, common good of all Muslims in Lagos, and promotion of Lagos Central Mosque.
“With a court case pending and a parallel lecture planned, the future of the Lagos Central Mosque’s leadership and the upcoming Ramadan observances remain uncertain. The dual crises highlight the deep divisions within the Mosque community and the urgent need for a resolution to restore peace and unity,” he added.
All efforts to speak with the Chief Imam of Lagos proved abortive as at the time of filing this story on Sunday, February 23, 2025.
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