The Ghanaian Minaret

Bauchi: A prominent Nigerian Muslim cleric, Dr Idris Abdul Aziz, Imam of the “Dutsen Tanshi Majlis” in Bauchi, died on Thursday after a long battle with an undisclosed illness.

The 64-year-old spent most of the just-ended Ramadan month seeking medical treatment; hence, he could not make public appearances for Islamic teachings and programmes as he did in the previous years.

His organisation announced his passing via a Facebook post, also indicating that his Janazah (funeral prayer) was scheduled to take place at 10:00 am at the Eid Games Village mosque, Bauchi, on Friday. 

Some prominent Islamic scholars, including Professor Ali Isa Pantami, have expressed condolences and prayers for the late scholar and his family.

“We extend our condolences for the death of Dr Idris AbdulAzeez to his family and relatives. May Allah forgive his shortcomings and make paradise his final abode,” he said.

Popularity of Dr Idris soared after he was arrested in May 2023 based on a petition and remanded at a correctional centre over ‘blasphemy’ allegations.

In his Ramadan sermon, the cleric allegedly made remarks that were interpreted by some sections of scholars to translate to blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad.

He would later be arraigned before a magistrate court and remain in custody after the judge denied him bail.

After a day in prison, he would be granted bail at a sum of one million naira with two sureties, where one must be a serving permanent secretary and the district head who has a landed property worth five million naira within the jurisdiction of the court.

In early February 2024, the Bauchi government filed fresh charges, accusing Mr Abdul Aziz of “inciting disturbances, insulting or inciting contempt of religious creed”.

This comes after the Imam, who had gone into hiding and was declared wanted by the police, was reported to have campaigned against Governor Bala Mohammed in the previous year’s governorship election in the state.

Mr Abdulaziz supported Mr Muhammad Buhari’s main opponent, Abubakar Sadiq of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the 18 March 2023 election.

In April 2024, after fleeing into exile amid a protracted political feud with Governor Bala Muhammad, he returned home with the intervention of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, who brokered a peace pact.