National Telescope national telescope newspaper
By Ekpenyong Emmanuel
The Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, has ordered the dissolution of the Shari’ah panel constituted by the state central mosque, citing concerns that it could lead to an avoidable crisis in society.
The panel, which was inaugurated recently, aimed to provide arbitration based on Islamic jurisprudence, particularly in marriage-related disputes.
However, the state government has also weighed in on the matter, stating that the Independent Sharia Arbitration Panel is not part of the judicial structure of the state and will not be allowed to operate.
The State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dayo Apata, SAN, emphasized this point in a statement.
Oba Adejugbe expressed worries over the reactions generated by the existence of the Shari’ah panel, stating, “It appears they set up a committee at the central mosque to listen to disputes, and they might have a good intention being an internal arrangement within them.
But I told them the mood of the nation will not allow that to happen, and that they should revert to how our founding fathers were settling disputes in the past without setting up a special committee or panel.”
The Chief Imam of Ekiti State, Alhaji Jamiu Kewulere, defended the constitution of the Shari’a panel, saying it was put together to resolve marital and family issues in the mosque and ensure peaceful coexistence in society. “All we want here in Ekiti is peace, we don’t want anything else apart from that.
We made a committee to settle disputes among couples in the Islamic religion.”
Kewulere also clarified that the panel’s purpose is to address issues of inheritance and marriage, common among Muslims, and to settle these issues peacefully to avoid violence or crisis.
The dissolution of the Shari’ah panel has sparked tensions, with Muslim leaders declining to speak to the press after the meeting with Oba Adejugbe.
