The Bauchi State Police Command has withdrawn the wanted notice on Malam Idris Abdulaziz, a Bauchi-based Islamic cleric, for ‘contempt of court’ following the intervention of Malam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, NSA.
Recall the police in a Special Gazette Bulletin issued by the order of the Inspector-General of Police on February 8, 2024, urged anyone with information about the whereabouts of the 63-year-old cleric to report to the State Police Command or any nearest police station.
However, the State Commissioner of Police , CP Auwal Musa Mohammad, yesterday spearheaded a peace pact signed between Abdulaziz and the Government of Bauchi State at the police state headquarters.
The peace pact was witnessed by the Director, Department of State Services, DSS; the Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, and the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Bauchi State.
The peace pact was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the spokesperson of the police command, SP Ahmed Wakili.
The statement partly reads “the Commissioner of Police as the Chairman of the Security and Allied Agency in Bauchi State, resolved to ensure that the communication gap that was identified as the causative agent among others responsible for deteriorating the relationship between the parties would be addressed without hesitation.
“He expressed his unequivocal appreciation to the Governor of Bauchi State Sen. Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir, for honoring the call of NSA and other relevant stakeholders for the peace accord and maintained that the written commitment that was signed would be judiciously observed by the parties concerned.”
“Malam Idris Abdulaziz Dutsen Tanshi should understand that while he enjoys the right to freedom of speech, he should not use the pulpit as a platform to insult or make derogatory and abusive statements against preachers/clerics.”
“He should strive to foster an atmosphere of peace and harmony within the community through his preaching, regardless of differences in opinion or religious beliefs. It is, therefore, imperative that he respects constituted authority henceforth.”
The Command stressed, “We hope that this marks the beginning of a new era of cooperation and understanding in Bauchi State.”
Recall the Upper Shari’a court in Bauchi had issued an arrest warrant for the Chief Imam following his refusal to appear before the court to continue his trial.
Abdul’aziz is standing trial before the court on offenses bordering on alleged incitement of public disturbance of peace and blasphemy.
The cleric was also accused of uttering blasphemous comments against Prophet Muhammad and some notable clerics in one of his Ramadan Tafsir sessions.
Imam Abdul’aziz had gained popularity in the State for openly criticising policies and programmes of the current PDP-led Bauchi State Government, a development that did not go down well with the government.
