Islamic group: We’re inaugurating Sharia arbitration panel, not court

The Oyo state chapter of the Supreme Council for Shari’ah says its planned event for January was misconstrued for the establishment of a Sharia court.

In a flier that circulated widely on Tuesday, the group extended invitations to guests nationwide for the “inauguration ceremony of Shari’a court in Oyo town and its environs”.

The event was scheduled to take place on January 11, 2025, at the Muslim Community Islamic Centre, Oba Adeyemi High School road, Mobolaje area of the state.

The organisers however announced the suspension of the event indefinitely following public outcry.

However, a statement issued on Wednesday by Bello Adisa, chairman of the Sharia committee of Oyo land, said the event is to inaugurate an “arbitration panel,” not a Sharia court.

Adisa said such panels, designed to settle family dispute among Muslims, already exist in parts of the south-west.

“This is to inform the general public on behalf of the entire Muslim Community of Ογο town that the inauguration ceremony of INDEPENDENT SHARI’A ARBITRATION PANEL of Oyo town, initially slated for 11th of January, 2025 at Oyo Muslim Community Islamic Centre, Agbogangan, Oyo has been postponed and new date will be announced later,” the statement reads.

“The postponement is informed by the inadvertent reference of the programme as inauguration ceremony of SHARI’A COURT in Oyo town and its environs instead of INDEPENDENT SHARI’A ARBITRATION PANEL.

“Such Arbitration Panel, which already exists in many parts of the South West, is only meant to settle family disputes among willing Muslims, without any power of enforcement. It is not a Court.

“All inconveniences caused by the misrepresentation and consequential postponement is highly regretted.”

Checks by TheCable showed that a Sharia arbitration panel was inaugurated in Ekiti state in October.