Ekiti govt: No Sharia Court in our state

Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji

The Ekiti State Government has denied the establishment of a Sharia Court or an Independent Sharia Arbitration Panel in the state.

The Ekiti State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dayo Apata (SAN), made this known via a statement on Thursday, January 23, 2025.

Apata was reacting to publications in a section of the media on Wednesday, which reported that some Muslim leaders had started using Sharia law in Ekiti State.

“Arbitration and, or Mediation issue is a Quasi-Judicial matters, which are regulated by Law in Ekiti State,” Apata noted.

The commissioner said existing courts in Ekiti State, including Customary Court, Customary Court of Appeal, and High Courts have been handling issues relating to Islamic, Christian, and traditional marriages, as well as inheritance, without any rancour or agitation.

He stated: “The Sharia Courts in the North are equivalent to the Customary Courts in the Southern part of Nigeria, wherein the appeals therefrom, also go to the Sharia Court of Appeal.

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“The state similarly has Customary Courts that hear customary cases, as well as the Customary Court of Appeal that hears appeals from the Customary Courts.”

Apata said the State High Courts and all other courts of record also have Arbitration and Mediation mechanism.

According to him, Customary Courts and the Customary Court of Appeal can effectively take care of any customary issues, arising from Yoruba traditional marriages, Islamic marriages, and Christian marriages, especially the ones that are not statutory marriages, which can only be dissolved by the State High Courts across Nigeria.

Apata said the issue of religion must be handled with utmost care, and warned against activities or inciting statements that could negatively affect the peaceful coexistence among residents of the State.

He stressed that the government would not compromise on any action that may hinder the prevailing peace, and fester hostility in Ekiti State.

The Star