An Islamic group under the aegis of the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria, the Oyo State chapter has indefinitely postponed the inauguration of the Sharia court earlier scheduled to be held on January 11, 2025.
The group made this disclosure in a statement signed by the Khadimul Muslimeen of Oyo Kingdom, Imam Daud Igi Ogun, on Tuesday.
The statement read, “On behalf of the Oyo Muslim indigenes, this is to inform the general public that the inauguration ceremony of the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (Oyo branch) previously scheduled for January 11th, 2025, at the Muslim Community Islamic Center, Oba Adeyemi High School Road, Mobolaje Area, Agbongangan, Oyo, has been suspended until further notice. Islam portrays peace!”
Background
In a flier that circulated widely on Monday, the group had extended invitations to guests nationwide for the court’s inauguration ceremony.
The event is scheduled to take place on January 11, 2025, at the Muslim Community Islamic Centre, Oba Adeyemi High School road, Mobolaje area of the state.
The flier identified Yusuf Akinade Olayinka 1, Bashorun of Oyo land, as the royal rather of the day.
It also named Abdullateef Eleyele, Mufairu of Oyo land, as the spiritual father of the day, while Tajudeen Kamorise, Aare Musulumi of Oyo land, was listed as the chief host for the occasion.
However, the proposed event has sparked controversy on X, a microblogging platform, while some netizens have expressed support for the announcement, others have strongly criticised it.
Opponents argue that establishing a Sharia court in the South West, a region predominantly inhabited by Yoruba people undermines the area’s cultural and religious diversity, where no single faith is dominant.
Supporting his stance, another user, @MFaarees, tweeted, “If you’re a Muslim and you don’t want Sharia Law, you really need to question your Imaan. Like, how can you be Muslim and hate what Allah SWT commands?”
Opposing the development, an X user, @bin_gbada, tweeted, “I’m a Muslim & I’m TOTALLY against a Sharia law in Yoruba land. All hands should be on deck to ensure that no sharia law is passed anywhere in the Southwest. It should be collectively rejected. I’m an advocate against sharia laws.”
Another user, @IleAjisefa, wrote, “If you’re silent on this Sharia law saga in the Southwest, then you’re enabling it. Even if we can’t see the implications of the laws in other nations, we can see it in the north.
“The question is ‘what progress does it bring?’ And those that claim it will be for Muslims only, don’t forget that was how they started in the north and Hisbah can arrest anyone now. We reject sharia law in its entirety. No to sharia law in Yorubaland.”
“There must be no sharia law in the southwest. There must be no sharia courts in the southwest. We are a secular country under secular laws! No one should even try to play that useless game over here. Amen,” @Pfemiolaleye wrote.
The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has said he’s aware of the move to inaugurate a Sharia Court in the state.
In a video shared by his Senior Special Assistant on New Media, Olorundare Olamide Wilson, Makinde made it clear that his position will be against Sharia Court if the move is against the law and Constitution of Nigeria,
“I said that people may try but for me, the law and constitution of Nigeria are what I’m sworn to and that if they are within the law, fine. But if they are not, they should expect that I will insist that the law must be followed,” he said.
