Sharia Court: Oyo organisers to announce new inauguration date

The Supreme Council of Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) has said it will soon announce a new date for the inauguration of an Independent Sharia Arbitration Panel in Oyo State.

The event had been slated for January 11, 2025, but was suspended on Tuesday following a pushback from youths in the Southwest after sighting a flyer for the event with the caption, ‘Inauguration Ceremony of Sharia Court in Oyo Town and Its Environs.’

According to the youths, Sharia will be of no benefit to the secularism of the Southwest, adding that it has in no way benefitted the north where it is practiced.

In a statement made available to our correspondent, the Chairman of the Committee, Rabiu Bello Adisa, said the event has been mistaken to mean the inauguration of a Sharia court.

Adisa said the postponement is informed by the inadvertent reference of the programme as inauguration ceremony of Sharia Court in Oyo town and its environs instead of Independent Sharia Arbitration Panel.

“Such Arbitration Panel, which already exists in many parts of the South West, is only meant to settle family disputes among willing Muslims, without any power of enforcement. It is not a court,” he said.

He concluded by expressing regrets over the inconveniences caused by the misrepresentation and consequential postponement.

– Onus is on Oyo State Government – CAN –

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has said the onus is on the Oyo State Government to respond to claims that a Sharia court is scheduled to be inaugurated in the state.

In a chat with our correspondent, the CAN Director on National Issues and Social Welfare, Apostle Commodore Abiola Ayuba, said the Constitution of Nigeria is very clear on the secularity of the country and the right of people to freedom of worship.

He said, “If there are issues concerning the establishment of Sharia in Oyo State, you need to find out from the state government if there’s a law that permits it. What will be the jurisdiction of the particular court? I know that Oyo has a very sizable number of Muslims. Oyo has extant laws.”

Ayuba also called the attention of the Oyo State Assembly to the planned inauguration of a Sharia court in the state.

He further said, “People don’t just come and plant a law. It has to be popular, it has to be acceptable, it has to guarantee freedom. Not freedom for those who want it alone but also for those who do not want it. I believe such a matter will go to the state assembly for discussion.”

– Oyo governor vows to uphold Nigeria’s law –

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Tuesday made it clear that his position will be against Sharia Court if the move is against the law and Constitution of Nigeria.

He said this in a video shared by his Senior Special Assistant on New Media, Olorundare Olamide Wilson, Makinde.

“I said that people may try but for me, the law and constitution of Nigeria are what I’m sworn to and that if they are within the law, fine. But if they are not, they should expect that I will insist that the law must be followed,” he said.