The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has urged religious leaders across Nigeria to take a stronger stand against corruption and support efforts to prosecute those involved in financial crimes.
The Sultan made the call on Wednesday at the 2026 Second Council Meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) in Abuja, held under the theme, “Shared Sacred Flourishing in Nigeria.”
He warned that religious devotion cannot legitimise wealth obtained through corruption, stressing that money acquired through illicit means should not be presented as an offering to God.
The Sultan also urged religious leaders not to shield people involved in corrupt practices because of religious, family or personal connections.
His remarks came as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) unveiled an interfaith manual aimed at involving religious leaders more actively in the fight against corruption.
EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, who also addressed the NIREC gathering, described corruption as a major moral challenge to Nigeria’s pursuit of shared prosperity.
The Sultan said religious institutions have an important role to play in shaping public attitudes towards integrity and accountability.
He urged religious leaders to use their platforms to condemn corruption rather than remain silent when members of their communities become involved in financial crimes.
The intervention places religious institutions alongside government agencies and other civil-society actors in efforts to discourage corrupt practices.
The Sultan’s comments also come amid continuing concerns about the use of public resources for religious activities. Reports on the NIREC meeting said he cautioned politicians and public office holders against using allegedly stolen public funds to sponsor pilgrimages to holy sites.
The call for greater cooperation between religious leaders and anti-corruption authorities is expected to form part of the broader conversation around ethical leadership and accountability in Nigeria.