Shariah Panel Holds First Public Sitting In Ekiti, Resolves Marriage Dispute
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.
The Independent Shari’ah Arbitration Panel in Ekiti State has held its first public sitting at the popular Oja Oba Central Mosque, Ado-Ekiti.
This was confirmed to SaharaReporters by residents of the state and Prof. Ishaq Akintola, the Executive Director of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), an Islamic human rights organisation, stating that the inaugural sitting of the Shariah panel was held last Thursday.
SaharaReporters learned further that the panel was 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.
This resolution was facilitated by earlier interventions from family members, which paved the way for a peaceful settlement.
But the panel adjourned the second trial till January 30 for a continuation hearing. The case involved allegations by a wife accusing her husband of neglecting his marital responsibility.
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.
One of the groups is the United Kingdom (UK) and Europe branch of Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, otherwise known as UK Afenifere.
The group 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.
