Oyo Islamic Group Clarifies Alleged Sharia Court Establishment

Kehinde Fajobi

The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria, Oyo State chapter, has clarified its intentions behind establishing an Independent Sharia Arbitration Panel in Oyo town and its neighbouring areas.

The group emphasised that the panel aims to settle family disputes among willing Muslims without enforcement powers, contrary to claims of it being a Sharia court.

In a statement signed by the Chairman of the Committee, Dr Bello Adisa, and made available on Wednesday, the group explained that the event, initially scheduled for 11th January 2025, was postponed due to an “inadvertent misrepresentation” of the panel as a court.

Adisa said, “This arbitration panel, which already exists in many parts of the South-West, is meant only to settle family disputes among willing Muslims, without enforcement powers.

“It is not a court. We deeply regret any inconvenience caused by this misrepresentation and the subsequent postponement.”

A new date for the inauguration will be announced soon, Adisa added.

The postponement followed public backlash triggered by a viral flier describing the event as the inauguration of a Sharia court.

Critics argued that such an establishment was incompatible with the predominantly Yoruba South-West region, unlike northern Nigeria where Islamic courts are more common.

In response to the outrage, the Khadimul Muslimeen of Oyo Kingdom, Imam Daud Igi Ogun, issued another statement.

He confirmed the suspension of the event and said, “On behalf of the Oyo Muslim indigenes, this is to inform the general public that the inauguration ceremony… has been suspended until further notice. Islam portrays peace!”

Reacting to the controversy, Governor Seyi Makinde reaffirmed his commitment to upholding the Constitution.

He stated, “Regarding the establishment of a Sharia court in Oyo town, people may try, but for us, I swore to uphold our laws and the Constitution of Nigeria. If their actions are within the law, fine; if not, they should expect that I will insist the law must be followed.”