The wife and children of a Zaria-based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Khalifa Sani Abdulkadir, have raised the alarm over his disappearance 25 days after he travelled to Abuja following the alleged blockage of his bank account.

The scholar is one of the respected leaders of Fityanul Islam, a Tijaniyya sect in Zaria and across Kaduna State.

Speaking in an interview with RFI International, monitored in Kaduna, the scholar’s wife, Hajiya Ramatu Khalifa Sani Abdulkadir, said her husband left home early in the morning after informing her that he was travelling to Abuja to resolve issues related to his bank account.

She said, “He knocked on my door in the morning. I told him I was praying. He gave me money for household expenses and said he was going to Abuja and, God willing, would return the same day.

“From that day up till now I have not heard his voice again. Whenever I call his line, it is switched off. Today makes it 25 days since I last heard from him.

“I am alone at home with the children. I am under serious tension. I feel dizzy, and I cannot sleep. I try to be strong so that the children will not panic, but we are extremely worried.” She added that the family was later informed that her husband was being accused in connection with a sum of about N2m.

She said, “It was said that his account was blocked and that he had to go to Abuja for it to be reopened. Later, we were told it had something to do with about N2m.”

The scholar’s son, Sunusi Khalifa Sani Abdulkadir, who accompanied his father, recounted what transpired during their visit to Abuja.

He said, “After his account was blocked, he asked for the reason and was told it was the EFCC, and that the account could only be reopened if he went to their office.

“After questioning the sheikh, they said there was the sum of N2m that had been sent to him, which they were investigating. He explained that someone linked him to another man who asked for prayers concerning personal life issues, and that he carried out what was requested.”

He added that the anti-graft agency later described the matter as a military case.

He said, “They said it was a military case and informed soldiers. They also said my father had agreed to return the money. The soldiers said they would come and question him, and since that day, for 25 days now, we have not seen him.

“Within these 25 days, they gave him a number and he called to say he was fine. But we still don’t know why he was arrested, where he is or what condition he is in.”

Reacting to allegations circulating that the scholar was arrested for allegedly receiving money to pray for people planning a coup, Sunusi said the family was unaware of such claim.

He said, “We don’t know anything about that because nobody informed us, and the authorities have not said anything like that to us.”

The family appealed to the authorities to either release the scholar or at least disclose his whereabouts. (Daily Trust)