Activist lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has taken a swipe at controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, following the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Khamenei, 86, was reportedly killed on Saturday in air strikes carried out jointly by Israel and the United States in Tehran. The operation was described as a major military offensive targeting the heart of Iran’s capital.

Reacting to the news, Gumi hailed the late Iranian leader as a “lucky soul” who “died in jihad,” claiming Khamenei’s struggle was against those responsible for the deaths of innocent women and children in Gaza and elsewhere. He further asserted that Khamenei’s blood “will fuel change in the ummah,” praising the Iranian leader for standing firmly for justice.

However, Adeyanju, known for his critical stance on extremist sympathizers, took to X to criticize Gumi. He wrote:

“Gumi and other terrorist sympathizers in Nigeria are crying. The demon of Iran is gone. Why is a country that makes so much noise so weak and defenseless? The US announced an attack, yet Iran could not prevent these explosions. How was it so easy for Israel and the US to access Iranian airspace and carry out this operation?”

Adeyanju’s remarks underscore the growing tension between critics of Iran and supporters of its leadership within Nigeria, highlighting the controversial position of some clerics in the country’s socio-political discourse.