The undue resistance, inflammatory rhetoric, and outright distortion of facts by certain groups opposing these panels are deeply concerning and least expected from a peoplpe that claim to be tolerant.
The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) Secretary General, Professor Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, disclosed this in Kaduna saying, Nigerian construction has expressly granted Muslims to operate Islamic law.
The JNI was responding to the recent uproar against the establishment of Shari’a panels in some parts of south-west Nigeria, said it is more than a privilege for Muslims in the country to want adjudication under Sharia code.
He said “The 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) guarantees the religious freedoms of all citizens, including Muslims. Specifically, sections 38 and 275-279 provide for the establishment and operation of Shari’a courts for civil matters where applicable.”
According to the statement, Sharia arbitration panels “do not infringe on the rights of non-Muslims but merely offer a voluntary alternative dispute resolution mechanism for Muslims who choose to settle personal matters such as marriage, inheritance, and family disputes according to Islamic law.
“For the discerning mind, Islam has very interesting and enriching inheritance codes that have remained inalienable to Muslims’ lives. It is, therefore, mischievous and deceptive to suggest that these panels aim to ‘impose’ Shari’a on non-Muslims.
“The panels are strictly for Muslims, adjudicating only cases where both parties consent, a practice that exists in various pluralistic societies worldwide.”
He said this was not the first time Shari’a adjudication would be undertaken in the South West, adding, “Historically, Yoruba Muslims have settled civil disputes through customary Islamic mechanisms, predating colonial rule, and even under British rule, Native Courts recognised Shari’a-based adjudication in predominantly Muslim communities.”
He accused those leading the campaign of misinformation and misrepresentation, unwarranted hostility and distortion of empirical facts by instilling fear in the populace against Shari’a panels to.
The organization asked those in such actions to desist from their divisive agenda.
In another development, the Muslim Ummah of Southwest Nigeria (MUSWEN) on Sunday said those against the Sharia panels in south west were making “unnecessary noise; misinformation and unfounded allegations” over the panel.
It warned against attacking the Sultan of Sokoto/President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar over the issue.
MUSWEN President, Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, in a statement on Sunday, said the “panel is a committee of Islamic scholars set up by Muslims to settle marriage and inheritance disputes.”
Okladejo said Shari’ah arbitration panels have existed in some southwest states without creating issues.
“These Panels do not have any power of enforcement. They are only meant for Muslims who would prefer their family matters be resolved according to the dictates of Islam. The Panel in Oyo State has flourished for over 20 years.
“The panels also exist in Osun and Lagos states. We must stress that the existence of these panels has helped the government in reducing marriage breakdowns, which might have bloated the army of vulnerable children.
“MUSWEN did not find any legal justification, therefore, for the unnecessary alarm and unwarranted resistance with the establishment of Shari’ah Panel in Ekiti State.
“They are voluntary platforms designed solely for the resolution of civil disputes among consenting Muslims. As said, it was to fill the inexplicable vacuum created by the failure of the political elite in Southwest to establish Sharia Courts, as allowed by the Nigerian Constitution, despite the huge population of Muslims in the region.
“The Arbitration and the Shariah Court of Appeal, just like the Customary Court of Appeal (which all of them have) are provided for in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (see section 275), confirming the legality of both initiatives,” Oladejo added.
MUSWEN President accused traditional rulers and senior state government law officials of misleading the public on the issue of the Independent Shariah Arbitration Panel.
He said “We expect that with the intervention of the number one Muslim body in the country, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) on the matter, it ought to have been laid to rest.
“Unfortunately, rather than heed the caution of the NSCIA, some people went to abuse the head of the Muslims in the country.
“These actions of abusing people in leadership positions based on erroneous perception are distasteful and uncivilised.
“We expect those in high authority who are against the establishment of the Sharia Panel to seek proper understanding of the matter to avoid lending their voices ignorantly.”
