The Ekiti State Government has reaffirmed that its legal framework does not recognise the establishment of a Shariah court or an Independent Sharia Arbitration Panel, following reports about the first public sitting of such a panel last week.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Ekiti State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dayo Apata, clarified that the state’s laws are not aligned with the creation of a Shariah court or panel. This followed news of the Shariah panel resolving two marriage disputes, claiming it aimed to provide arbitration based on Islamic jurisprudence.
Apata emphasized that the legal structure in Ekiti, which includes Customary Courts, the Customary Court of Appeal, and the High Court, is fully capable of handling all kinds of disputes, including those relating to Islamic, Christian, and traditional marriages. He stressed that the government would not tolerate any activities that could undermine the peace and coexistence in the state.
“The government will not compromise on any action that may hinder the prevailing peace and fester hostility in the state,” Apata said, adding that matters concerning marriages and inheritance within Islamic, Christian, and traditional contexts have been effectively managed by the state’s existing judicial system without any significant issues.
The Attorney General clarified that while the Shariah courts in the Northern region of Nigeria have a parallel system to Customary Courts in the south, the judicial structure in Ekiti does not allow for a Shariah court or panel. Instead, the state relies on the Customary Courts and the Customary Court of Appeal, which are well-equipped to handle cases involving traditional and religious marriages, especially those not legally formalised through statutory processes.
He also cautioned that the recent development was likely a political move by opposition groups seeking to score points ahead of next year’s elections. Apata reminded religious leaders to be cautious of being manipulated by political interests, warning that the government would take legal action against any activities that threatened the state’s constitutional framework and peace.
Apata’s comments follow a similar situation in Oyo State, where the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria had earlier announced plans to inaugurate a Sharia court. This initiative sparked public outcry, prompting the council to indefinitely postpone the inauguration. Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, had stated that while a Sharia court could only be established if it complied with Nigeria’s constitutional provisions, he would not allow any actions that contravened the law.
As Ekiti prepares for the 2026 gubernatorial election, the ongoing discussion around Sharia courts highlights the tensions between traditional legal practices and the formal legal system in various Nigerian states.
