On Thursday, the Ekiti State Government refuted reports about the presence of a Sharia Court or the proposed Independent Sharia Arbitration Panel in the state.
It was recalled that the Independent Shari’ah Arbitration Panel, led by three Kadhis—Imam Abdullahi Abdul-Mutolib, Imam Abdulraheem Junaid-Bamigbola, and Dr. Ibrahim Aminullahi-Ogunrinde—held its inaugural session earlier in the week at the Ado-Ekiti Central Mosque, where it resolved two marriage-related disputes.
However, a statement made available to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, by the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Dayo Apata (SAN), denied the existence of such body, saying “the Independent Sharia Arbitration Panel is not in the judicial structure of the State, Arbitration and/or Mediation issue is a Quasi-Judicial matters which are regulated by Law in the State”.
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Apata stated that Ekiti State already has a legal framework in place, including the Customary Court, Customary Court of Appeal, and High Court, which have been effectively handling matters related to Islamic, Christian, and Traditional marriages and inheritance without any conflict or controversy.
According to him, “the Sharia Courts in the North are equivalent to the Customary Courts in the Southern part of Nigeria wherein the Appeals therefrom also goes to the Sharia Court of Appeal”, adding that “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 pointed out that the State’s High Courts and other courts also have mechanisms for arbitration and mediation.
He emphasized that the Customary Courts and the Customary Court of Appeal are well-equipped to handle issues related to Yoruba Traditional Marriages, Islamic Marriages, and Christian Marriages, particularly those not supported by Statutory Marriages, which can only be dissolved by the State’s High Courts across Nigeria.
While acknowledging that this is a religious matter that requires careful handling, Apata warned against any actions that could disrupt the state government’s policy of peaceful coexistence among residents. He stressed that the government would not tolerate anything that could jeopardize the peace or incite hostility in the state.
He also recognized that the 2026 Governorship election is gaining momentum in Ekiti State, and that some opposition members, unable to challenge the government’s performance, have resorted to unethical practices.
Apata, therefore, urged religious leaders to be cautious of being exploited by politicians and other disruptive elements, adding that the government would not hesitate to enforce the full force of the law to uphold the Constitution and ensure peaceful coexistence in the state.