- Christian and Muslim leaders in the South-West rejected the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs' push for a Shari’a arbitration panel, citing concerns over its implications
- Governments and traditional rulers, including in Ekiti, objected to the panel, asserting that existing legal frameworks were sufficient for resolving disputes within the Muslim community
- Despite resistance, Muslim leaders argued the panel was an arbitration mechanism in line with Islamic practice, insisting it would not force participation or contravene Nigerian laws
Leaders from the Christian and Muslim communities in the South-Western states of Nigeria are at odds over the planned inauguration of a Shari’a arbitration panel by the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (SCIA).
The move to establish the panel, which will serve the Muslim community in Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo, and Lagos, has sparked a heated debate, with proponents of the initiative insisting that there is no turning back on their plans.
The panel, intended to resolve disputes within the Muslim community, has faced strong opposition from state governments and various leaders.
Dr. Hammed Bakare, President of the SCIA in Ekiti, and Dr. Rafiu Bello, Chairman of the Shari’a Committee of Oyoland, both confirmed that the panel would be inaugurated despite the backlash.
They assert that the panel is an arbitration mechanism, not a formal court, and is in line with Islamic practice for resolving matters such as marriage and inheritance disputes.
However, the move has been met with resistance from several quarters. In Ekiti State, the government and traditional leaders have voiced strong objections.
Dayo Apata, the state Commissioner for Justice, emphasised that the legal framework in Ekiti does not recognise a Shari’a court or arbitration panel.
He pointed to the existing customary and high courts as sufficient for handling disputes within the Muslim community, which he said have been operating without controversy for years.
In a bid to maintain peace and order, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, issued an order dissolving the Shari’a panel in the state.
This move was backed by several Christian and traditional groups, including the Yoruba Cultural Renaissance Advocates, who praised the monarch for upholding secularism and fostering unity in the state.
Despite the opposition, Bakare and Bello maintain that the arbitration panel is not a court and does not contravene any Nigerian laws.
Bakare explained, "It is just part of our way of worship, to do things according to the dictates of Allah. It is not compulsory for all Muslims, but for those willing to abide by the Quran's teachings."
He reiterated that the panel operates in a similar manner to other internal arbitration bodies, such as those in churches, and that no one is forced to use it.
The controversy surrounding the panel stems from a broader concern over the imposition of religious laws in a region that is home to diverse faiths.
Critics, including Pastor Joshua Opayinka of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria in Ondo, argue that the establishment of a Shari’a court is not feasible in the state, suggesting that such a move could lead to divisions and tensions, especially given the region's mixed religious demographics.
In response to such concerns, Bello insisted that the panel would only handle matters between willing Muslims and would not impose penalties or disrupt the wider community. He pointed out that similar panels already operate in other parts of the South-West, including Lagos, Osogbo, and Ibadan, without major issues.
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