Ogun Governor Rejects Sharia Court, Declares It Illegal
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has firmly rejected the establishment of a Sharia Court within the state, calling for the immediate cessation of activities related to the unauthorized court. In a statement he personally signed on Tuesday, Abiodun emphasized that Ogun’s legal framework does not recognize a Sharia Court, and only courts established by the Nigerian constitution are permitted to operate in the state.
The governor’s statement follows the circulation of a flier in the state announcing the creation of a Sharia Court. The flier, issued by the Sharia Arbitration Committee, Ogun State, proclaimed that the long-awaited Sharia Court was now in operation, offering Muslim residents a platform for legal adjudication based on the Qur’an and Sunnah. The court, according to the flier, would handle cases such as marital disputes, inheritance issues, and child custody, with prominent Islamic jurists leading the proceedings.
However, Governor Abiodun strongly denounced the establishment of the court, reiterating that Ogun State only recognizes courts legally recognized by Nigeria’s constitution, such as Magistrates’ Courts, High Courts, and Customary Courts. He clarified that no law in the state has authorized the establishment of a Sharia Court, and Sharia law does not form part of the state’s legal framework.
In his statement, the governor stressed that while the state respects individuals’ right to practice their religion, such freedoms do not extend to the formation of unauthorized institutions like a Sharia Court. He directed that all individuals involved in the creation or operation of this illegal court cease their activities immediately, warning the public to disregard any documents, summons, or individuals associated with the court. Abiodun also encouraged residents to report any related incidents to the authorities.
The controversy in Ogun follows similar rejections of Sharia Courts by other South-Western states. A week earlier, Ekiti State Governor, Abiodun Oyebanji, had similarly declared the Sharia Court initiative illegal in his state. In December, the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria had also planned to establish a Sharia Court in Oyo State, but the plan was met with widespread opposition and was postponed indefinitely.
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, reiterated that any move to establish a Sharia Court in his state would have to comply with Nigeria’s constitution, and emphasized that he would not allow any action that violated the law.
Furthermore, socio-political groups in the South-West, such as Afenifere and the Christian Association of Nigeria, have also spoken out against the introduction of Sharia Courts in the region. The International Council for Ifa Religion expressed concerns that the push for Sharia law in the South-West could be part of a hidden agenda for Islamization.
Fayemi Fatunde, president of the council, argued that if Sharia law is allowed for Muslims, then adherents of other religions should also be entitled to separate legal systems. He warned that allowing Sharia in Nigeria would undermine the country’s secular constitution, potentially leading to religious-based legal systems for different faith groups, which could fuel division and conflict.
The debate over the legality and implications of Sharia law in Nigeria continues to generate heated discussions, with many stressing the importance of upholding the nation’s constitutional principles of secularism and unity.
