Prof. Oloyede Advocates for Sharia Panels in Southwest Nigeria, Says It Will Promote Justice for Muslims.
In a thought-provoking discussion on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political program aired on Channels Television, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, has voiced strong support for the establishment of Sharia panels in the Southwest geopolitical zone of Nigeria.
Oloyede, who also serves as the Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), emphasized that the introduction of Sharia panels would provide a legal framework for resolving marriage and inheritance disputes among Muslims in the region, ensuring justice in accordance with Islamic principles. He called on political and religious leaders in the Southwest to recognize the importance of such panels and support their implementation.
Speaking on the necessity of these panels, Oloyede explained that they are not new to the Southwest, contrary to what many may believe. He cited historical evidence showing that Sharia panels have existed in parts of the region for years.
“I believe that Nigeria is great, and Nigeria will continue to be great, but it requires a lot of rethinking,” he said. “Recently, people are talking about Sharia Panels in the Southwest, and I was just smiling. I had never seen that level of ignorance being displayed.”
To further illustrate his point, Oloyede referenced a PhD thesis written in 2007 by an academic who studied the existence and operations of Sharia Panels in Oyo State. The scholar, now Prof. Makinde of the University of Ibadan, had documented how these panels had already been functioning long before 2007, proving that such structures were neither new nor foreign to the region.
He warned against sensationalizing the issue or stirring unnecessary tension over a matter that has historical precedence. According to him, the Southwest has long been known for religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence among Muslims, Christians, and traditional worshippers, but the absence of proper legal recognition for Islamic jurisprudence in certain matters has created psychological burdens for Muslims in the region.
Oloyede highlighted a critical disparity in Nigeria’s legal system regarding the recognition of religious marriages and dispute resolution mechanisms.
“The churches are licensed by the government to conduct statutory marriages, and if there is a dispute in those marriages, couples have access to government-funded high courts for resolution,” he pointed out.
However, for Muslims who marry according to Islamic rites, there is no specialized legal framework to resolve their marital disputes. Instead, they are often forced to seek redress in customary courts, where judges may not have the necessary knowledge of Islamic law.
“If there is a dispute in my marriage, where do I go? I don’t have the opportunity to access a legal system that understands the principles of Islamic marriage. I will have to go to a customary court, where the judge may know next to nothing about my faith and the laws upon which my marriage was based. Yet, he would be the one to decide my case based on customary law, which is different from Islamic law,” Oloyede lamented.
He further referenced Nigeria’s Constitution, which allows for the establishment of Sharia Courts of Appeal in states where the House of Assembly approves them. He noted that such courts already exist in many northern states, ensuring that Muslims there have access to legal institutions that uphold their religious values.
While acknowledging the peaceful religious coexistence in the Southwest, Oloyede cautioned against mistaking silence for satisfaction. He argued that harmony should not come at the expense of justice for any religious group.
“When we say there is harmony, it often means some people are suffering in silence. But when they finally speak up, people say, ‘Why are you making noise?’” he noted.
He urged the Nigerian government and Southwest leaders to ensure that Muslims are not placed at a legal disadvantage due to their religious practices. The introduction of Sharia Panels would, in his view, provide a fair and structured way to resolve disputes within the Muslim community, aligning with Nigeria’s constitutional provisions for religious freedom.
Prof. Oloyede’s remarks have reignited debates on the place of Sharia law in Nigeria’s legal system, particularly in regions outside the North where its implementation has not been widely formalized. While some may argue that introducing Sharia Panels could create religious divisions, Oloyede insists that it is a necessary step toward ensuring fairness and justice for Muslims in the Southwest.
As discussions continue, the question remains: Will Southwest leaders heed this call and establish Sharia Panels, or will the debate spark further controversy? Only time will tell.
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