The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa?ad Abubakar, has expressed displeasure with the ?unwarranted resistance and objections from both political and traditional quarters? to efforts of the Muslim community to set up an Independent Shariah Panel in Ekiti State.

The Deputy National Legal Adviser, NSCIA, Imam Haroun Muhammad Eze, also lamented that the resistance occurred barely two weeks after the announcement on the inauguration of a Shariah panel in Oyo State generated ?unnecessary anxiety? thereby leading to its indefinite postponement.

Eze said it is particularly disturbed about the high spate of intolerance and disregard for the rights of Muslims, especially in the southern part of the country.

He said the Independent Arbitration Panel, which is a voluntary platform designed solely for the resolution of civil and marital disputes among consenting Muslims, was to fill the inexplicable vacuum created by the failure of the political elite in South-Western Nigeria to establish Shariah Courts, as allowed by the Nigerian Constitution, in South-Western states, despite the huge population of Muslims in the region.

?This and other cases, such as the denial of the rights of female students to wear the Hijab despite a Supreme Court judgement, are nothing but calculated attempts to prevent Muslims in the region from practicing their faith,? he said.

He pointed out that the Arbitration and the Shariah Court of Appeal, just like the Customary Court of Appeal (which all of them have) are provided for in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (see section 275), confirming the legality of both initiatives.

Eze said the NSCIA strongly supports the establishment of Independent Shariah Arbitration Panel in Ekiti and Oyo states for the purpose so intended, especially where the Muslims in the states have been denied their constitutional right to a Shariah Court of Appeal in all the states of the South-Western Nigeria.

?The Council cannot find any legal justification for the unnecessary alarm and unwarranted resistance. All the states in the North have Shariah Courts and some, in addition, have Customary Courts,? he said.

He called on the governors and traditional authorities in the southern part of the country, particularly the South-West, to ensure that the constitutional rights of Muslims in their respective domains are preserved and protected. While others are allowed to live, Muslims should also be let live.? (The Guardian)

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