Authorities in Saudi Arabia have deported controversial Kaduna-based Islamic Scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi from performing the 2025 Hajj and deported him back to Nigeria.
Sheikh Gumi who confirmed this exclusively to Whitewaterdigest in a telephone interview hinted that Nigerian authorities may have taken up his deportation diplomatically with the Saudi Authorities.
According to him, “they gave me a Visa but when I did my thumbprint at the immigration, I was told that there was a firm instruction that I should not be allowed into Saudi Arabia so I booked the next flight and came back to Nigeria” he told Whitewaterdigest.
He had also stated on his Facebook page that “Due to some reasons related to my views on world politics, the authorities in Saudi Arabia do not want me to be present at Hajj even though they have granted me a visa. I am grateful to the authorities in Nigeria who have pledged to engage with the Saudi authorities on this matter” he wrote on his Facebook post.
It was revealed that Sheikh Gumi was part of a delegation of scholars sponsored by the Nigerian Hajj Commission (NAHCON) to travel to Saudi Arabia for religious services.
Gumi arrived in Medina with other clerics last Saturday at around 10:30pm on an Umza Air flight, but upon arrival at the city’s airport, Saudi immigration officials prevented the cleric from entering the country.
Reports revealed that Sheikh Gumi has now returned to Nigeria to continue his daily activities, especially teaching.
Sheikh Gumi has gained notoriety recently with his controversial campaign for the government to grant amnesty to Bandits operating in the Northwestern part of the country, drawing a parallel between them and the militants in the south south region who were granted amnesty by president Umaru Yaradua
