By Wole Adedeji, Ilorin
A university lecturer in Kwara State who has been charged to court by the police for alleged criminal trespass incitement and acts capable of causing public disturbance is billed to in court again next Tuesday.
The lecturer; Dr. Ali Miqdad of the Kwara State University Malete known as ‘Alfa Toyin’ who also professes to be an Islamic leader was last week before an Ilorin Magistrate Court to face the charges and was granted bail of N300,000 with two sureties in the like sums each.
The people of Masankore Community in Moro Local Government of Kwara State had earlier petitioned the State Commissioner of Police by through their lawyers raising alarms on the activities of the lecturer cum Islamist.
He was said to have come to the Christian dominated community disguising to have come to help Muslim faithful who are few in number to help build a standard mosque at the instance of an undisclosed Aids Agency.
They alleged in one of their petitions a copy of which was shown to this reporter shortly after building mosque in the sleepy village, he started to bring Muslim faithful from Ilorin, the State capital in lorry loads to worship every Friday in a most intimidating manner.
Their petition written by the Law Firm of A.O Awolalu & Co. as retainers to Messers Amos Adebayo; the Magaji (Head of Masankore), Jacob Aremu and Ayodele Adebayo who are the Community leaders of Masankore complained about the intrusion of Dr. Ali Miqdad to deceive them and subsequently engage in acts capable of setting the peaceful community in turmoil.
The Lawyer told the Police Commissioner’s office that ‘Alfa Toyin’ who is neither a native nor resident of Masankore approached Magaji Amos Adebayo that he wanted to help build a mosque where their Muslims members could be worshipping.
The lawyer added that Miqdad who was told to help complete an ongoing mosque project declined but first insisted on building a mosque besides ECWA Church; the only Christian worship place.
Speaking with this reporter, The Magaji; Elder Amos Adebayo of the ECWA Church and traditional head of Masankote it took him and even Muslim adherents’ serious efforts to make Dr. Ali to accept another location to erect his mosque.
However, according to the Magaji, ‘Alfa Toyin’ who completed the super mosque within a short time and instantly began to brazenly trespass on communal lands, claiming ownership of same giving orders that natives of the Community who belong to other faiths, particularly the Christians should vacate their ancestral place immediately.
Barrister Awolade in the petition had said that ‘Alfa Toyin’s action was capable of causing disturbance withing the community which could degenerate into a full blown bloody communal cum religious upheaval.
While speaking with this journalist Magaji Adebayo also said immediately after the invading Islamist completed the mosque announced in his maiden ‘jummat’ (friday) sermon over a powerful loud speaker on the mosque that “Christians and other non-Muslims in the community should relocate immediately”.
The Magaji added that Dr. Ali Miqdad also announced that he had successfully claimed his “father’s land” and that all other persons in Masankore had become tenants.
Meanwhile, the presiding Senior Magistrate, T. A. Seidu adjourned the case to 17 March and granted him the bail of N300,000 and two sureties each in the like sum.