The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, warns politicians and public office holders not to sponsor pilgrimages to Mecca or Jerusalem using stolen public funds. He delivers the message during a public appearance in Abuja.
According to the outlets, the Sultan speaks on Wednesday at the opening ceremony of a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC). The meeting is themed “Shared Sacred Flourishing in Nigeria.” Both reports frame his warning as a call for lawful and transparent funding of religious activities, including pilgrimages.
While both sources describe the same core warning and setting, they differ slightly in wording—one outlet emphasizes “stolen funds,” while the other uses “stolen money.” Neither report provides specific details about any alleged cases or named individuals, focusing instead on the broader guidance to political leaders regarding the source of funds used for religious sponsorship.
