A heated debate has erupted in South-West Nigeria following plans to establish Sharia panels in the region, leading to widespread disagreement among Muslim and non-Muslim communities.
While Muslim leaders defend their right to arbitration under Sharia, non-Muslim groups have voiced concerns about the potential impact on societal harmony and legal integrity.
The controversy stems from the distinction between Sharia courts, which are part of the formal judicial system in the North, and Sharia panels, which some Muslim communities argue are merely voluntary arbitration committees.
Muslim leaders insist that these panels, which handle civil issues like marriage, inheritance, and divorce, are not courts and therefore do not require government approval.
“The Oyo Sharia panel is simply a committee for arbitration. It is not a court, and it does not interfere with the existing legal system,” said Prof. Ishaq Akintola, Director of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC). “This is about Muslims exercising their right to resolve disputes according to their faith.”
The issue first came to light when the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria (Oyo branch) announced plans to inaugurate a panel in Oyo town, Oyo State.
The ceremony was postponed indefinitely after a public outcry. However, a group under the Yoruba Council Worldwide (Igbimo Apapo Yoruba Lagbaye) has threatened legal action if the panel goes forward, arguing that it would violate the law.
“We will not allow any illegality,” said Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde. “If their actions are within the law, fine. But if not, I will ensure the law is followed.”
In response, Sharia panel advocates argue that these panels have been in place across the South-West for years, operating in mosques and addressing disputes between consenting Muslims. “There is no reason for concern.
These panels do not have the power to force anyone to appear before them,” explained Mr. Shakirullahi Obale, a Sharia judge in Lagos. “They are voluntary, and their decisions are binding only if both parties agree to submit to them.”
Muslims in the region assert that the establishment of Sharia panels addresses a gap in the legal system, where matters related to Muslim marriages and inheritances are often not recognized by the state’s conventional courts.“Muslim marriages are governed by Sharia law, and when issues arise, there is no place for Muslims to turn to within the formal court system,” said Marthina Olarinde, a legal practitioner in Ibadan.
However, critics, particularly among non-Muslim groups, fear that the panels could pave the way for further Sharia implementation, particularly in criminal matters, which are currently not part of the panels’ remit. “There’s a lot of misinformation,” said Obale. “Sharia is not just about punishments. It’s about family and contractual law, and it’s entirely voluntary.”
