No Sharia Court Or Arbitration Panel In Ekiti Judicial Structure – Commissioner Says

The Ekiti State Government has clarified that there is no legal provision for a Sharia court or arbitration panel within the state’s judicial structure. This was stated by Dayo Apata, the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, in response to reports about an independent Sharia arbitration panel handling marital disputes in the state.

Apata emphasized that arbitration and mediation matters in the state are governed by existing laws and that current judicial structures, including customary courts, customary courts of appeal, and high courts, are sufficient to address marital and inheritance issues across different faiths. He noted that these courts have successfully handled cases involving Islamic, Christian, and traditional marriages without any contention.

The clarification followed reports of a Sharia arbitration panel being inaugurated in Ekiti in October 2024, which sparked public concern. Similar controversy arose in Oyo State in late 2024 when the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria announced plans to establish a Sharia court. The council later explained it was an independent arbitration panel, not a formal court.

Apata reiterated that religious issues must be approached with caution to maintain peace and urged religious leaders to avoid being manipulated for political purposes. He also warned that the government would enforce the law to protect constitutional provisions and uphold peaceful coexistence in the state.