The Independent Shari’ah Arbitration Panel has reportedly held a first public sitting in Nigeria’s southwestern state of Ekiti.
The public sitting was held at the popular Oja Oba Central Mosque, Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, residents said.
SAHARA REPORTERS quoted Prof. Ishaq Akintola, the Executive Director of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), an Islamic rights organisation, as saying the inaugural sitting of the Shariah panel was held last Thursday.
The panel was reportedly presided over by three Kadhis Imam Abdullahi Abdul-Mutolib, Imam Abdulraheem Junaid-Bamigbola, and Dr. Ibrahim Aminullahi-Ogunrinde who entertained two marriage-related disputes.
During the first trial, the head of the panel, Imam Abdullahi Abdul-Mutolib, announced that the dispute between the couple was resolved through a consent judgment, the New York-based publisher reported. This resolution was facilitated by earlier interventions from family members, which paved the way for a peaceful settlement.
The second case involving allegations by a wife accusing her husband of neglecting his marital responsibility was adjourned till January 30 for a continuation hearing.
The panel explained that the adjournment would allow additional investigations to ensure a fair decision.
The sitting of the panel came amid a series of opposition from groups against the implementation of Sharia law in the southwestern region of Nigeria.
Last week, a Yoruba group held a street awareness and press conference, rejecting the introduction of Sharia in the region.
The Yoruba Nation Religious Council (YONAREC), a coalition of the Yorùbá Nation Christian Association (YORNCA) , Muslim Association of Yorùbá Nation (MAYON), and Imo Oodaiye Orile Ede Yorùbá (IMỌ OODÁIYÉ/IṢẸṢẸ), also rejected the Islamic law.
Traditional leaders in the southwestern region of the country have also warned that any attempt to initiate Sharia law in the region will cause anarchy, division, and instability.
The United Kingdom (UK) and Europe branch of Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, otherwise known as UK Afenifere strongly rejected the clamour by some Muslims for the establishment of Sharia law in the South-West region.
The group cautioned those clamouring for the establishment of Sharia law in the South-West to immediately desist from such acts to avoid disunity amongst the Yoruba people.
The group said Yoruba people are too intelligent and enlightened to be gaslighted along religious divides.
The group added that the predominantly Yoruba South-West is distinct from the Northern region where Muslims are in the majority.
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