Islamic Council Opposes Ekiti Monarch’s Proposed Dissolution of Sharia Arbitration Panel

The Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs has expressed disappointment over the directive by the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Adeyemo Adejugbe, to dissolve the Sharia arbitration panel established at the state capital’s central mosque.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the council said it was embarrassed by the monarch’s decision, clarifying that the panel was not a Sharia court but an arbitration body designed to mediate disputes among Muslims in the state.

“Sharia is part of Islam, and the freedom to practice our religion is guaranteed by Section 38 of the 1999 Constitution as amended. We do not need approval from any quarter to practice our faith,” the council stated in a release co-signed by its president, Hammed Bakare, and spokesperson, Ahmad Yusuf.

The council firmly rejected the call to dissolve the panel, emphasizing that its creation was lawful and rooted in the religious rights of Muslims. It urged calm among the Muslim community while it engages with stakeholders to resolve the issue.

The controversy began on Saturday when Adejugbe, during a meeting with Chief Imam Jamie Kewulere, traditional rulers, and other Muslim leaders, ordered the dissolution of the arbitration panel. He argued that while the panel may have been established with good intentions, its existence could inadvertently spark tensions.

“The mood of the nation will not allow such to happen now,” Adejugbe said. “If we allow such committees, Christians and traditional worshippers may set up similar panels, and before you know it, it will lead to crises.”

The Ewi emphasized that disputes within the Muslim community could continue to be settled using traditional methods employed by the founding fathers of the mosque, without the need for a formal arbitration panel.

The directive from the monarch aligns with earlier comments by Dayo Apata, the Ekiti State commissioner for justice, who stated there was no legal provision for the establishment of a Sharia court or arbitration panel in the state’s judicial structure.

Apata’s statement followed reports of the panel’s first meeting, where it reportedly resolved marriage and inheritance disputes among Muslims.

The back-and-forth highlights a growing tension between religious practices and state governance in Ekiti. While the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti stressed the importance of maintaining peace and avoiding divisive structures, the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs insists that the panel is a lawful exercise of religious freedom.

The council’s statement also hinted at deeper frustrations with what it sees as interference in religious matters. It reiterated its commitment to practicing Islam peacefully and legally, warning against any action that infringes on constitutionally protected rights.