The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, has expressed deep concern over what it describes as increasing intolerance and disregard for the rights of Muslims, particularly in the southern part of Nigeria.
In a statement signed by the Deputy National Legal Adviser, Imam Haroun Muhammad Eze, Esq., the Council specifically decried the opposition to the establishment of an Independent Shariah Arbitration Panel in Ekiti State. The initiative, spearheaded by the Muslim community to provide a voluntary platform for resolving civil and marital disputes among consenting Muslims, has faced resistance from political and traditional quarters in the state.
The NSCIA noted that this latest development follows closely on the heels of a similar controversy in Oyo State, where the planned inauguration of a Shariah panel was indefinitely postponed due to public outcry and opposition.
According to the Council, the establishment of an Independent Shariah Arbitration Panel is not only legal but also necessary, given the failure of political leaders in South-Western Nigeria to establish Shariah Courts despite the region’s significant Muslim population. The 1999 Constitution (as amended) clearly provides for both the Shariah Court of Appeal and Customary Court of Appeal under Section 275, reinforcing the legitimacy of such initiatives.
The NSCIA further cited other instances of what it described as systematic suppression of Muslim rights in the region, including the continued denial of female students’ right to wear the hijab despite a Supreme Court ruling affirming their freedom to do so. The Council condemned such actions as deliberate attempts to prevent Muslims from freely practicing their faith.
The Council stressed that all northern states operate Shariah Courts alongside Customary Courts, and there is no legal justification for denying South-Western Muslims similar institutions to address their civil and religious matters.
The NSCIA therefore called on governors and traditional authorities in the South-West to uphold the constitutional rights of Muslims within their jurisdictions. It urged stakeholders to respect religious plurality and ensure that Muslims are not denied the legal frameworks necessary for them to live in accordance with their faith.
“While others are allowed to live freely, Muslims should also be let live,” the statement concluded.
