Saudi Arabian authorities have deported prominent Nigerian Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, after barring him from entering the holy city of Medina, despite possessing a valid visa.
Gumi, who departed Nigeria last Saturday aboard an Umza Air flight as part of a delegation from the Nigerian Hajj Commission (NAHCON) assigned to provide religious services during the 2025 Hajj, was stopped by Saudi immigration officers upon arrival at approximately 10:30 p.m. He was denied entry and subsequently deported back to Nigeria.
The cleric, who is based in Kaduna, took to his verified Facebook page on Monday to share his experience, attributing the deportation to his outspoken views on global politics. He, however, noted that Nigerian authorities have pledged to engage with their Saudi counterparts in hopes of resolving the matter.
This incident marks Gumi’s second major encounter with Saudi authorities. In 2010, he was detained and placed under house arrest for over six months in connection to alleged links with Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Nigerian behind the failed Christmas Day plane bombing attempt in 2009. That case reportedly involved email exchanges between Gumi and Abdulmutallab, as cited by U.S. investigators.
Gumi's deportation has sparked fresh debate about the intersection of politics and religion in international relations, particularly during the sensitive Hajj season.
