Justice Abdurraheem Sayi of the Kwara State Sharia Court of Appeal says Muslims in the South West do not need government or traditional rulers’ approval to set up Sharia arbitration panels.
READ ALSO: Ekiti dismisses Sharia Arbitration Panel’s legitimacy
Speaking at a lecture at the University of Lagos, Justice Sayi described opposition to the panels as “baseless” and driven by Islamophobia. He emphasized that arbitration is a contractual arrangement that does not require government endorsement, referencing the Arbitration and Mediation Act of 2023, which permits private individuals to create arbitration panels and set their legal guidelines.
He further noted that Sharia arbitration has been successfully implemented in Lagos, questioning why Muslims in the South West are still denied access to Sharia courts for resolving personal and family disputes. He urged state governments in the region to establish Sharia courts to provide Muslims with a structured legal avenue for addressing family-related issues.
Justice Sayi clarified that Sharia arbitration panels do not replace conventional courts but function on a voluntary basis through mutual agreements. He argued that excluding Muslims from an alternative legal system for family matters is discriminatory and called on South West governments to rectify the situation.
This comes weeks after the Chief Imam of Yorubaland, Sheik Abdulraheem Aduanigba, warned that introducing Sharia law in the South West could lead to conflict and war. He argued that the region’s religious and cultural diversity makes Sharia impractical and risks destabilizing existing traditions and institutions, including the authority of Yoruba monarchs.
Sheik Aduanigba’s warning follows the Ekiti State Government’s rejection of a Sharia Court within its judicial system.
