Sharia panel: NSCIA expresses concern over intolerance toward Muslims in southern Nigeria

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), led by Alh. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, has voiced its concern over the growing intolerance and violation of Muslim rights, particularly in southern Nigeria.

The latest incident occurred in Ekiti State, where the Muslim community’s efforts to establish an Independent Shariah Arbitration Panel were met with resistance from both political and traditional leaders.

This comes shortly after the announcement of a similar Shariah panel in Oyo State, which faced significant opposition, leading to its indefinite postponement.

The NSCIA emphasized that the Nigerian Constitution allows for the establishment of such courts in states with significant Muslim populations, and it expressed disappointment over the failure of political leaders in South-Western Nigeria to act on this provision.

It called for greater respect and recognition of Muslims’ rights to practice their faith, free from unnecessary hindrances.

The statement reads in full

LIVE AND LET LIVE!

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) –under the leadership

of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alh. Muhammad

Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni- is particularly disturbed about the high spate of

intolerance and disregard for the rights of Muslims, especially in the southern part

of the country. The most recent of this is the development emanating from Ekiti state

where the efforts of the Muslim community to set up an Independent Shariah

(Arbitration) Panel was met with unwarranted resistance and objections from both

political and traditional quarters.

This is coming barely few weeks after the announcement on the inauguration of a

Shariah panel in Oyo State generated unnecessary anxiety thereby leading to its

indefinite postponement.

The Independent Arbitration Panel, which is a voluntary platform designed solely

for the resolution of civil and marital disputes among consenting Muslims, was to

fill the inexplicable vacuum created by the failure of the political elite in South[1]

Western Nigeria to establish Shariah Courts, as allowed by the Nigerian

Constitution, in South-Western states, despite the huge population of Muslims in the

region.

This and other cases, such as the denial of the rights of female students to wear the

Hijab despite a Supreme Court judgement, are nothing but calculated attempts to

prevent Muslims in the region from practicing their faith.

Meanwhile, 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. The NSCIA strongly supports the establishment of Independent Shariah Arbitration

Panel in Ekiti and Oyo States for the purpose so intended, especially where the

Muslims in the states have been denied their constitutional right to a Shariah Court

of Appeal in all the states of the South-Western Nigeria. The Council cannot find

any legal justification for the unnecessary alarm and unwarranted resistance. All the

states in the North have Shariah Courts and some, in addition, have Customary

Courts.

The Council calls on the Governors and Traditional Authorities in the southern part

of the country, particularly the South-West, to ensure that the constitutional rights

of Muslims in their respective domains are preserved and protected. While others

are allowed to live, Muslims should also be let live.