NEWS REPORT
By Ibn Yusuf – Ibadan, Nigeria
Dated: Sunday, July 13, 2025
In a significant turn in the ongoing controversy involving Dr. Sharaf Gbadebo Raji and Sheikh Abu Sharif in Ilorin, the respected scholar of Sunnah broke his silence on Sunday, July 13, 2025, during the Jalsatul Baseerah monthly Islamic programme held in Marina, Lagos, Nigeria.
This comes amidst efforts at the Ilorin Upper Area Court to amicably resolve a direct criminal complaint filed against Dr. Sharaf by Sheikh Abu Sharif, following a controversial segment of the Ebarika Ọdún post-Eidul Ad’ha program in Ogbomosho.
The matter, which drew widespread attention across social media platforms, stemmed from a question-and-answer session at the event, where Dr. Sharaf had asked participants from various towns to mention fetish practices in their communities. Three youths from Ilorin, Adam Abdulrauf, Ibrahim, and Abdulwasi, named certain traditional deities, allegedly worshipped in parts of the city. The statements went viral, sparking outrage among some Ilorin residents who viewed the comments as defamatory and dishonourable to the Islamic heritage of the city.
Though the youths later retracted their claims and clarified their misunderstanding, Abu Sharif proceeded to file a direct criminal complaint citing criminal conspiracy, defamation, and disturbance of public peace. Dr. Sharaf, in turn, filed a cross-petition against Abu Sharif for defamation and false accusation. Both matters were submitted before the Ilorin Upper Area Court.
During the last court sitting, prominent legal figures, including the Chairmen of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria (MULAN), Ilorin Branches, intervened. With the support of respected scholars like Prof. AbdurRazaaq AbdulMajeed Alaro and Shaykh AbdulWahaab Ajia, the court agreed to explore reconciliation. The judge formally adjourned the case to August 14, 2025, urging both sides to seek resolution guided by Islamic principles.
In his address yesterday in Lagos, Dr. Sharaf used the platform to provide clarity and context. He firmly denied any intention to malign Ilorin or its Islamic heritage. “Walk through the streets of Ilorin, do you see idols in public places?” he asked rhetorically, emphasizing his admiration for the city’s longstanding Islamic history.
He clarified that his initial question to the youths had been misunderstood and that he had immediately rephrased it during the session to ask about un-Islamic practices rather than idols. “The mischief came from social media handlers who edited the video, looping the original question and omitting my correction,” he explained. He lamented the spread of a misleading narrative and extended a subtle but sincere appeal for understanding.
“I am not out to destroy Yoruba towns or cities,” he said, “but to raise awareness of the lingering un-Islamic practices still existing in our societies. We all have Da’wah work to do.”
The clarification was well-received by many attendees at the Lagos program, and other places including scholars and Muslim youth leaders who had anticipated such a statement. Reactions on social media from Muslim youth and elders suggest that Dr. Sharaf’s words may mark a turning point in calming frayed nerves and restoring unity.
As the court date in August approaches, observers are hopeful that this controversy, which momentarily strained relations among members of the Muslim community in Yoruba land, will end in reconciliation, guided by sincerity, wisdom, and better understanding towards the message of the Qur'aan and Sunnah.
For MuslimNews, Simplysalafiyyah.com, Ibn Yusuf reporting from Ibadan, Nigeria
