Government Debunks Sharia Court Claims, Reaffirms Commitment To Peaceful Coexistence

Government Debunks Sharia Court Claims, Reaffirms Commitment To Peaceful Coexistence

Ado-Ekiti—The Ekiti State Government has debunked reports suggesting the existence of a Sharia Court or the establishment of an Independent Sharia Arbitration Panel within the state…READ MORE…

Earlier this week, an Independent Sharia Arbitration Panel held its first sitting at the Ado-Ekiti Central Mosque, presided over by three Kadhis: Imam Abdullahi Abdul-Mutolib, Imam Abdulraheem Junaid-Bamigbola, and Dr. Ibrahim Aminullahi-Ogunrinde. The panel adjudicated on two marriage-related disputes.

However, in a statement issued on Thursday by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Dayo Apata (SAN), the government refuted the claim, clarifying that the Independent Sharia Arbitration Panel is not part of Ekiti’s judicial structure. Apata explained that arbitration and mediation fall under quasi-judicial matters and are regulated by law in the state.

He reiterated that Ekiti has an established judicial framework—including Customary Courts, the Customary Court of Appeal, and the High Court—that efficiently handles matters related to Islamic, Christian, and traditional marriages, as well as inheritance, without issues or agitations.

Apata highlighted that Sharia Courts in northern Nigeria serve a similar purpose to Customary Courts in southern Nigeria, with appeals progressing to the Sharia Court of Appeal in the North. In Ekiti, the Customary Courts and Customary Court of Appeal address customary issues, including those stemming from Yoruba traditional marriages, Islamic marriages, and Christian marriages, particularly when these marriages are not formalized under statutory law. Statutory marriages, he noted, fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the High Court across Nigeria.

The Attorney-General further emphasized that the government is committed to fostering peaceful coexistence among residents and warned against actions that could disrupt harmony or provoke hostility. He acknowledged the religious sensitivity of such issues and urged caution in addressing them.

Apata also cautioned against the politicization of the matter, suggesting that some opposition members, as the 2026 governorship race heats up, may resort to unethical practices to discredit the government. He advised religious leaders to resist being used as political tools, emphasizing that the government would not hesitate to enforce the law to protect the constitution and maintain peace in the state.

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