The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, has urged leaders in the South-West to support the establishment of Sharia panels in the region to promote peace and religious harmony.
Speaking on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Channels Television, Oloyede, who also serves as the Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, expressed concern over the misconceptions surrounding the issue. He pointed out that Sharia panels have existed in the region for years.
“I was just smiling because I had never seen that level of ignorance being displayed,” he said, referring to recent debates on the topic. He highlighted that a PhD thesis was completed on Sharia panels in Oyo State in 2007, indicating their long-standing presence.
Addressing religious tolerance, Oloyede noted that while the South-West is known for peaceful coexistence, Muslims in the region face psychological burdens due to disparities in legal structures.
He explained that while churches are government-licensed to conduct statutory marriages and resolve disputes in government-funded high courts, Muslims who marry under Islamic law often have to rely on customary courts, where judges may lack expertise in Islamic legal principles.
“The Constitution of Nigeria allows for Sharia Courts of Appeal where state assemblies approve them. However, the absence of such courts in the South-West means some people are ‘suffering in silence’ despite the claims of harmony,” he added.
The debate over Sharia panels has sparked controversy in the South-West, with Muslim leaders advocating their right to self-determination, while some non-Muslim groups express concerns about the potential implications.
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