Experts have differed on the proposed establishment of Sharia arbitration panels in some parts of South-West Nigeria.
While some believe that the establishment of Sharia panels, which are essentially committees of Islamic scholars set up to settle marriage and inheritance disputes, will foster sustainable peace in the zone, others think such panels are suspicious and will stir division and religious tension in the relatively peaceful geopolitical zone.
The experts made their views known on the Sunday edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme aired on Channels Television.
Of late, the proposed establishment of Sharia panels in states like Ogun, Oyo, and others in the South-West has triggered disquiet in the zone with traditional institutions and the Christian community rejecting the move. At the same time, state governments in Ogun and Oyo have also ruled out the idea. But despite the pushback, the Muslim community in Nigeria and the NSCIA-led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, have stressed the importance of the panels as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism for Muslims.
On the programme, a lawyer, Adam Oloriaje, who is a former Secretary General of the Muslim Lawyers Association, believed that Sharia arbitration panels won’t endanger the peaceful co-existence enjoyed in the South-West.
He said the idea that such panels are Jihad in nature is not true and that Muslims are not compelled to submit to such panels. The lawyer said Sharia arbitration panels have sat in Lagos for 22 years and resolved protracted issues among Muslims.
Oloriaje said Section 38 of the Nigerian Constitution made room for citizens to manifest their religion. Citing the Lagos example, he said no fear or suspicion should be entertained because of Sharia panels.
The lawyer said, “Sharia arbitration panels have been in existence in Lagos State in the last 22 years. Weekend Sharia panels sit in Lagos to resolve personal issues between Muslims.
“The problem we have about the cacophony on the panels is either out of stark ignorance – people don’t even know what the concept is all about – or out of intolerance. Some people immediately they hear the word Sharia, what comes to their mind is that you want to compel people, you want to convert people to another religion, you want to cause chaos. No. It’s not jihad.”
However, a security and governance strategist, David Okoror, believed that the establishment of Sharia panels would introduce suspicion in the South-West.
Okoror said, “The Yoruba people have a long history and over a long time, Muslims, Christians, and others have managed their issues well. If it has not worked, why do we have so much peace in the South-West?
“What this whole talk is going to do in the South-West is that it’s going to bring division, suspicion, and fear considering that most families in the South-West have a pastor, an Imam, and others.”
Also, a United States-based social commentator, Fola Ojo, shared Okoror’s sentiment that the proposed Sharia panels could disrupt the peaceful co-existence enjoyed in the South-West zone.
Ojo said, “I’m really surprised that in 2025, when nations around the world are growing when they are empowering their people, when education is made available, when healthcare is made available, we are still talking about religion in Nigeria in 2025.
“By Section 275 to 279 of the constitution of Nigeria, you will see that only state assemblies and the National Assembly can establish courts. So, when we heard court, it was a resistance, it was a red flag right away.
“It’s not that we are ignorant, we are just concerned. The South-West has been in peaceful co-existence for years. We have Muslims and Christians in our families. I have Muslim in-laws. It’s (Sharia panels) is just about to disrupt the status quo of tranquility that the South-West has always had.”
