Weapons Haram: A pastor, a jet, Israel and $10m By Bala Muhammad

Imagine this scenario: “A private jet belonging to the Sultan of Sokoto [though he hasn’t as yet got one] has been impounded in South Africa laden with undeclared cash to the tune of almost $10m. Also arrested were two Nigerians and a Saudi Arabian citizen. The arrested trio said they were in South Africa to purchase arms…The Sultan of Sokoto is the leader of Nigeria’s Muslim community and President of the country’s influential Nigerian Supreme Council on Islamic Affairs (NSCIA)…”

Just imagine the frenzy, the abuse, the castigation, the condemnation a section of this country’s media and public commentariat would scramble to if this were what happened. The story would have been a real BANG!

However, the story happens to be the direct opposite:

“A private jet belonging to Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor has been impounded in South Africa laden with undeclared cash to the tune of almost $10m. Also arrested were two Nigerians and an Israeli citizen. The arrested trio said they were in South Africa to purchase arms…The Pastor is the leader of Nigeria’s Christian community and President of the country’s influential Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)…”

Muslims in Nigeria begin Ramadan fast Saturday — NSCIA

Muslims in Nigeria will begin fasting Saturday, following the sighting of the Ramadan moon, head of the Moon sighting committee of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, [NSCIA], Prof. Sambo Wali Junaidu, announced early Saturday in Sokoto, according to the Nigerian Televison Authority NTA and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, monitored in Abuja.

The new announcement updates an earlier statement by the NSCIA, which had asked Nigerian Muslims to commence the Ramadan fast on Sunday, because, according to the Secretary-General of the body, Ishaq Oloyede, a professor of Islamic studies, the moon had not been sighted.