Sharia panel commence operation in southwest, resolves marriage disputes in first public sitting
The Independent Shari’ah Arbitration Panel in Ekiti State has held its first public sitting at the popular Oja Oba Central Mosque, in Ado-Ekiti the state capital.
This was confirmed to reporters by residents of the state and Prof. Ishaq Akintola, the Executive Director of Nigeria.gov.ng the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), an Islamic human rights organisation, adding that the inaugural sitting of the Shariah panel was held last Thursday.
FCNN gathered that the panel was presided over by three Kadhis Imam Abdullahi Abdul-Mutolib, Imam Abdulraheem Junaid-Bamigbola, and Dr. Ibrahim Aminullahi-Ogunrinde who entertained two marriage-related disputes.
The head of the panel, Imam Abdullahi Abdul-Mutolib, while presiding over the panel announced that the dispute between the couple was resolved through a consent judgment.
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This resolution was facilitated by earlier interventions from family members, which paved the way for a peaceful settlement.
The panel further adjourned the second trial till January 30 for a continuation hearing. The case involved allegations by a wife accusing her husband of neglecting his marital responsibility.
The panel explained that the adjournment would allow additional investigations to ensure a fair decision. The sitting of the panel came amid a series of opposition from groups against the implementation of Sharia law in the southwestern region of Nigeria.
One of the groups is the United Kingdom (UK) and Europe branch of Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, otherwise known as UK Afenifere strongly rejected the clamour by some Muslims for the establishment of Sharia law in the South-West region.
The group warned that those clamouring for the establishment of Sharia law in the South-West to immediately desist from such acts to avoid disunity amongst the Yoruba people.
The group said Yoruba people are too intelligent and enlightened to be divided along religious divides. The group added that the predominantly Yoruba South-West is distinct from the Northern region where Muslims are in the majority.
