The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has strongly cautioned politicians and public office holders against using stolen public funds to sponsor pilgrimages to the holy lands of Mecca and Jerusalem, declaring that God does not accept corrupt offerings.

The revered traditional and religious leader gave the charge on Wednesday in Abuja during the opening ceremony of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) stakeholders’ meeting, themed “Shared Sacred Flourishing in Nigeria.”

Addressing the assembly, Sultan Abubakar asserted that the fight against systemic graft requires an active partnership between religious bodies and anti-corruption agencies. He maintained that using illicit wealth for religious obligations is an exercise in futility.

“We, as religious leaders, must fight corruption because God Almighty doesn’t like corruption. You cannot steal money and send people to Jerusalem or Mecca with corrupt funds and think God will accept your deeds. God is not corrupt, so you cannot use corrupt money for Hajj or anything else,” the Sultan stated.

THENEWSCREDIT reports that the Sultan urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to prosecute corrupt individuals decisively, insisting that neither religious titles nor political affiliations should shield anyone from justice.

He demanded that the EFCC discharge its duties entirely free from political interference, adding that the law must take its course regardless of the status of the accused.

“Whoever is involved—our brothers, sisters, fathers, or friends—should face the law. When someone is facing the law, do not tell me he is the pastor of so-and-so church or the chief imam of so-and-so mosque. We do not want to hear that,” he warned.

Highlighting NIREC`s role as a vital platform for Christian-Muslim dialogue, the Sultan emphasized that national peace and stability rely on deeper mutual engagement rather than passive coexistence.

“I keep telling people that I don’t want you to just tolerate me, because tolerance means enduring something you have no choice about. But if you understand me, we can work together because we know who we are to each other,” he said.

He also cautioned clerics against using the pulpit to incite division or attack public officers, especially during election periods, advising them instead to pray for national leaders. He further paid tribute to the outgoing Executive Secretary of NIREC, Prof. Cornelius Omonokhua, praising his impactful eight-year tenure.

Providing an overview of the Interfaith Anti-Corruption Manuals Project, the Chairman of the Interfaith Anti-Corruption Advisory Committee (IAAC), Prof. Adedibu Ojerinde, described the initiative as a strategic collaboration between the EFCC and Nigeria`s religious leadership to tackle the nation`s moral crisis.

Prof. Ojerinde noted that the manuals, originally conceived during the 2007 National Interfaith Forum on Corruption and re-inaugurated in January 2024 by President Bola Tinubu, have been updated to address contemporary vulnerabilities. These include youth involvement in cybercrime and money-laundering risks within religious institutions.

He stated that the formal handover of the manuals to NIREC marks a transition from publication to practical action, urging clerics nationwide to integrate anti-corruption themes directly into their Friday sermons and Sunday messages.

The event drew a diverse audience of Christian and Muslim leaders, senior government officials, security representatives, and members of the press.