The Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has thrown his weight behind the establishment of Independent Shariah Arbitration Panels in Oyo and Ekiti States.
The establishment of the Shariah panels in the states have been a controversial topic that has divided many Nigerians in the past few weeks with many believing it would erode the principles of freedom of worship but the Sultan, in a statement on Wednesday, noted that Muslims in the South-West have been denied their constitutional rights to a Shariah Court of Appeal.
He also expressed concern about what he described as the high spate of intolerance and disregard for the rights of Muslims, especially in the southern parts of the country.
The Sultan’s statement which was released on his behalf by the Deputy National Legal Adviser of NSCIA, Imam Haroun Eze, lamented what he termed as the unwarranted resistance and objections from political and traditional quarters to the Muslim community’s efforts to establish an Independent Shariah Arbitration Panel in Ekiti.
“The Independent Arbitration Panel, which is a voluntary platform designed solely for the resolution of civil and marital disputes among consenting Muslims, was to fill the inexplicable vacuum created by the failure of the political elite in SouthWestem Nigeria to establish Shariah Courts, as allowed by the Nigerian Constitution, in South-Westem states, despite the huge population of Muslims in the region,” the Sultan said.
“The NSCIA strongly supports the establishment of Independent Shariah Arbitration Panel in Ekiti and Oyo States for the purpose so intended, especially where the Muslims in the states have been denied their constitutional rights to a Shariah Court of Appeal in all the states of the South-Western Nigeria.
“The Council cannot find any legal justification for the unnecessary alarm and unwarranted resistance. All the states in the North have Shariah Courts and some, in addition, have Customary Courts.
“The Council calls on the Governors and Traditional Authorities in the southern part of the country, particularly the South-West, to ensure that the constitutional rights of Muslims in their respective domains are preserved and protected. While others are allowed to live, Muslims should also be let live,” he added.
The Sultan explained further that the Arbitration and the Shariah Court of Appeal, just like the Customary Court of Appeal are provided for in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.