Backdoor plan to establish Shariah Court in Oyo prompts questions of legality
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
An Islamic group called the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) says it plans to establish a Sharia Court in Oyo and neighbouring states, prompting questions of its legal right to do so outside government powers.
The group, in a flier that went viral on Tuesday, invited guests from across the country to the inauguration, which will be held on 11 January 2025 at the Muslim Community Islamic Centre, Oba Adeyemi High School Road, Mobolaje Area, Oyo city.
The flier listed Bashorun of Oyoland Yusuf Olayinka as royal father of the day; Mufairu of Oyoland, Abdullateef Eleyele as spiritual father of the day, and Aare Musulumi of Oyoland Tajudeen Kamorise as chief host.
Northern Muslim extremists pitch that a Shariah Court tries cases pertaining to only Muslims and allows people of other faiths to litigate or face trial in regular courts.
But in reality, the practice is different.
And, the plan to import Islamic legal system to the South has encountered disapproval from netizens, with many arguing that the South West of Yoruba people is not like the North where Muslims are dominant.
Among those who question the move on X expressed their views as follows:
#OurFavOnlineDoc
“To whom it may concern,
“Please read this post and listen well. If sharia law gets implemented in your state, Let me tell you ahead what will happen.
“You can be randomly arrested and imprisoned for ‘indecent dressing’. EVEN IF you are not a Muslim, EVEN if you are a Christian, EVEN IF you are a traditionalist, EVEN IF you don’t subscribe to Sharia, and EVEN if you are an atheist.
“During Ramadan, you can be arrested for selling food. Even if you are not a Muslim. As long as they can claim you were selling it to Muslims. I am NOT telling you what they may do. I am telling you what they have ALREADY done.”
“Once you hear ‘sharia law’, just run for your life. They will use it to kill, imprison, cut off people’s limbs, torture, and institutionalise oppression. And guess who the biggest victims will be? The poor and the less privileged. You better lend your voice to say no.
#Baba Ajisefa
“If you’re silent on this sharia law saga in southwest, then you’re enabling it. Even if we can’t see the implications of the laws in other nations, we can see it in the north.
“The question is ‘what progress does it bring?’ And those that claim it will be for Muslims only don’t forget that was how they started in the north, and Hisbah can arrest anyone now. We reject Sharia law in its entirety. No to sharia law in Yorubaland.”
Ugo
“Reject any Sharia, anything. Don’t even concede an inch. Because na so e dey start.”
#Alabi
“Genuine question: If you’re so passionate about Sharia, why not move to where it is practiced?
Motolani Alake
“This Sharia Law conversation proves that amalgamating Nigeria was a terrible decision, and true federalism/regional sectionalism or ‘un-amalgamation’ would be the solution. Because why should the entire country be subject to the religious limitations of a select people??
“Especially because this is what led to the Taliban and the downfall of Afghanistan. No country should ever be subjected to such extreme religious practices. I don’t need your extremes to police my flaws. Enforce it in your household. Thank you.”
Tosin.X
“Some of you think to say Sharia na play. Na from Quilox Lagos Isbah go carry you go kirikiri.”
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