The recent dissolution of the Independent Sharia Arbitration Panel in Ekiti State has sparked reactions from various Islamic groups, including the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, and the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).
The panel, which held its first public sitting at the Oja Oba Central Mosque in Ado-Ekiti, was presided over by three Kadhis—Imam Abdullahi Abdul-Mutolib, Imam Abdulraheem Junaid-Bamigbola, and Dr. Ibrahim Aminullahi-Ogunrinde. It initially handled two marriage-related disputes, resolving one amicably and adjourning the second for further investigation.
However, opposition to the panel emerged, with concerns raised about the implementation of Sharia law in the southwestern region. The Ekiti State government, through Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Dayo Apata (SAN), clarified that the panel was not part of the state’s judicial system and would not be allowed to function.
Following this, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, directed the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs to dissolve the panel. Speaking at a meeting with Muslim leaders and traditional rulers, the monarch acknowledged that the panel was created with good intentions but insisted that its existence could lead to conflicts among different religious groups. He urged a return to traditional dispute-resolution methods used in the past without formal committees.
Chief Imam Jamie Kewulere, who was present at the meeting, confirmed the panel’s establishment and its success in resolving disputes. He dismissed concerns about external influences or hidden agendas, emphasizing that the panel was created to address inheritance and marital issues within the Muslim community.
The Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, in response, expressed disappointment over the monarch’s directive. In a statement signed by its president, Hammed Bakare, and spokesperson, Ahmad Yusuf, the council maintained that the panel was merely an arbitration body for willing Muslims and not a Sharia court. Citing constitutional rights to religious freedom, they rejected the dissolution and vowed to continue practicing Islam within legal boundaries.
Similarly, the MSSN Ekiti State Area Unit criticized the decision to halt the panel, describing it as discriminatory against Muslims. In a statement by its representative, Jimoh Owonifari Kareem, MSSN argued that various arbitration panels exist in the state without interference, questioning why only the Sharia panel was targeted.
The group emphasized that the panel was established solely to mediate disputes among Muslims based on Islamic principles, promoting peace and moral values. MSSN highlighted its long-standing commitment to Sharia-compliant practices in education, economic activities, and social affairs, stressing that these have not disrupted societal harmony.
Reaffirming its stance, MSSN declared that it would resist any attempts to hinder its religious practices, using all legal means to uphold its rights. The organization asserted that the Sharia Arbitration Panel would remain active within the Muslim community, as it plays a crucial role in resolving conflicts and fostering unity.
