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Gani Adams fumes as Sultan backs Sharia courts in S’West

Published

18 hours ago

January 30, 2025

The Sultan of Sokoto-led Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs has thrown its weight behind the push to establish Sharia courts in South-West states.

In a statement on Wednesday titled, “Live and Let Live!” signed by its Deputy National Legal Adviser, Haroun Muhammed, the NSCIA decried what it described as the “high spate of intolerance and disregard for the rights of Muslims, especially in the Southern part of the country.”

The council argued that contrary to the assertion of South-West governors, Sharia courts are backed by the Nigerian Constitution.

The intervention by the NSCIA comes on the back of festering controversies over the creation of Sharia courts or panels in South-West State.

On Tuesday, the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, issued a stern statement rejecting the formation of a Sharia Court in his state.

Abiodun said Sharia courts are not recognised in Ogun State’s legal framework and Nigeria’s constitution and warned the brains behind the Sharia court to halt the formation.

Abiodun’s statement came about a week after his counterpart in Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, kicked against the establishment of a Sharia panel in Ekiti.

Earlier in December last year, an announcement by the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria to inaugurate a Sharia court in the Oyo town of Oyo State generated controversy, leading to its indefinite suspension.

Addressing the issue, the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, said, “About the establishment of Sharia court in Oyo town, people may try, but for us, I swore to uphold our laws and the Constitution of Nigeria.”

However, the Sultan-led NSCIA, on Wednesday, called on governors and traditional rulers in the South-West to protect and preserve the constitutional rights of Muslims in their respective domains.

The NSCIA described as “unnecessary and unwarranted” the resistance to the establishment of Shariah panel in the South-West, noting that the Sharia Arbitration Panel was a voluntary platform designed solely for the resolution of civil and marital disputes among consenting Muslims.

Muhammed 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 southwestern 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.

“The most recent of this is the development emanating from Ekiti state where the effort of the Muslim community to set up an Independent Shariah (Arbitration) Panel was met with unwarranted resistance and objections from both political and traditional quarters.

“This is coming barely a few weeks after the announcement of the inauguration of a Shariah panel in Oyo State generated unnecessary anxiety thereby leading to its indefinite postponement.

“This and other cases, such as the denial of the rights of female students to wear the Hijab despite a Supreme Court judgment, are nothing but calculated attempts to prevent Muslims in the region from practising their faith.”

The council maintained that the setting up of the panel was legitimate, mentioning 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. “

“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,” the statement further read.

The NSCIA advised against acts of intolerance for Muslims in the South-West, such as the opposition to the inauguration of a Sharia panel in Oyo and Ekiti States, and the denial of the rights of female students to wear the Hijab despite a Supreme Court judgment.

“The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs under the

leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, is particularly disturbed about the high spate of intolerance and disregard for the rights of Muslims, especially in the southern part of the country.

“The council calls 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 statement read.

‘Sharia Court not new in Ogun’

Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Sharia Arbitration Committee in Ogun State, Mallam Yusuf Oloyede, has clarified that the panel was inaugurated in 2018 and had been sitting at the Egba Central Mosque, Kobiti, Abeokuta, to handle disputes among Muslims.

Oloyede made this disclosure in an interview with The PUNCH on Wednesday, following public reactions to a flier circulating on social media announcing the inauguration of the committee.

According to him, the flier created a false impression that the panel was newly established, whereas it had been operating for over six years.

Oloyede emphasised that the committee does not function as a court but serves as an arbitration panel for Muslims who voluntarily seek resolution of their disputes in line with Qur’anic and Hadith principles.

“What we have is not a court per se but an arbitration committee that has been in existence since 2018. It is for arbitration of issues for Muslims who want such issues heard and resolved according to the Quran and Hadith,” he stated.

He further explained that the panel comprises jurists drawn from different regions of the state, including Yewa, Ijebu, Egba, and Remo, and holds its sittings at Egba Central Mosque.

On whether the committee would discontinue its sessions or review its operations following the Ogun State Government’s recent warning, Oloyede said the matter would be deliberated upon internally.

“We wouldn’t know how the state government’s statement is applicable to us because we are not running a court but an arbitration committee,” he said.

He added that the panel would meet soon to discuss the latest developments and determine the next course of action.

Related Topics:community Court Nigeria Nigerian students

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JUST IN 2025 Ramadan: Sultan Makes New Announcement For Muslims

Published

1 hour ago

January 30, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Sultanate Council Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, in collaboration with the National Moon Sighting Committee, has confirmed that there were no verified sightings of the crescent moon marking the beginning of Sha’aban 1446AH.

This announcement holds significant importance for Muslims in Nigeria, as Sha’aban is the last month before Ramadan, the holiest month in Islam.

Official Declaration of Sha’aban 1446AH
In a formal statement, Sambo Wali Junaidu, the Wazirin Sokoto and Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Sultanate Council, Sokoto, disclosed that no credible reports of moon sightings were received from moon sighting committees across the country.

As a result, Thursday, January 30, 2025, will be observed as the 30th day of Rajab 1446AH, while Friday, January 31, 2025, has been officially declared as the first day of Sha’aban 1446AH.

Sultan of Sokoto Endorses the Decision
The declaration was formally endorsed by His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).

“The confirmation of Sha’aban’s commencement is crucial, as it ensures consistency in the Islamic calendar and helps guide religious observances for Muslims across the country,” the statement emphasized.

Call for Spiritual Preparation for Ramadan
In light of this development, the Sultanate Council has advised Nigerian Muslims to adhere to official moon sighting announcements and begin spiritual preparations for Ramadan.

Sha’aban is considered a sacred month in Islam, often dedicated to increased prayers, fasting, and self-reflection in anticipation of Ramadan, which is set to begin in the coming weeks.

The Council reiterated the importance of unity and adherence to Islamic traditions, urging Muslims to take advantage of Sha’aban for spiritual purification and devotion.

News

JAMB Suspends Law Programs in Eight Universities, Including KWASU and Redeemers.

Published

2 hours ago

January 30, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that it will no longer conduct admissions for the Law program in eight universities. This decision was made following the suspension of the Bachelor of Laws program by the Council of Legal Education for the 2025/2026 academic session at the affected universities.

The affected institutions are:

– *Kwara State University*, Malete, Ilorin, Kwara State

– *Bingham University*, Karu, Nasarawa State

– *Redeemers University*, Ede, Osun State

– *Western Delta University*, Oghara, Delta State

– *Taraba State University*, Jalingo, Taraba State

– *Arthur Jarvis University*, Akpabuyo, Cross River State

– *Alex Ekwueme Federal University*, Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State

– *Nigerian Police Academy*, Wudil, Kano State

According to JAMB spokesman, Fabian Benjamin, the suspension of the Law programme at the Nigerian Police Academy will last for two academic sessions, specifically the 2025/2026 and 2026/2027 sessions.

“As a result, JAMB will not approve any admissions for candidates seeking to enroll in the Law program at the aforementioned universities for the 2025/2026 academic session. Furthermore, the ban on registration for the Law program at the Nigerian Police Academy will extend into the 2026/2027 academic session,” the statement concluded.

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Ex-President Jacob Zuma’s daughter arrested over South Africa riots

Published

2 hours ago

January 30, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, has been arrested over her alleged involvement in the 2021 riots that left over 300 people dead, police say.

Violence, chaos, and fear ripped through the port city of Durban, then spread to Gauteng, after Zuma’s jailing sparked intense protests over four years ago.

Zuma-Sambudla, a controversial figure in her own right, was accused of sharing incendiary social media posts that fuelled the civil unrest.

The arrest comes as a “result of a meticulous investigation” said spokesperson for the Hawks elite police unit, Brig Thandi Mbambo.

Zuma-Sambudla handed herself in to Durban Central police station on Thursday morning to face charges under the Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorist and Related Activities Act and incitement to commit violence, police said.

Her father’s party uMkhonto WeSizwe (MK), of which she is a senior member, confirmed her court appearance and urged supporters to “mobilize all ground forces to attend in numbers.”

While she has not commented directly on the charges, Zuma-Sambudla shared a cryptic note on X that simply said: “We see you.”

MK party spokesperson Nhlamule Ndhela told local broadcaster ENCA she had long been preparing for this moment

“She conditioned herself, because there have been many threats about her imminent arrest for the past three or four years,” he said.

He added that she will abide by the law as “a law-abiding citizen”.

This is not the first time her name has been brought up in connection to the 2021 riots, which are considered one of the bloodiest episodes in post-apartheid South Africa.

Zuma resigned as president in 2018 after nine years in office, plagued by corruption allegations, which he claimed were part of a political conspiracy.

Three years later, he was sentenced to 15 months in prison for contempt of court after refusing to testify before a panel investigating corruption under his presidency.

Protests erupted after he surrendered to serve his sentence.

During the unrest, Zuma-Sambudla was outspoken on X, frequently sharing images of the destruction and chaos, accompanied by the caption: “KZN, we see you.”

She used this phrase often throughout the violence. In a now deleted post, she shared a video of someone firing an automatic rifle at a poster of President Cyril Ramaphosa.

In 2022, Brig Mbambo , told local media they were not directly investigating her, but she had been named in statements from sources.

In response to this, Zuma-Sambudla said on X, “I have no fear! I will not be intimidated! I have beaten the dogs, now the masters are coming out! We see you!”

At the same time, the Jacob Zuma Foundation, said in a statement the former president’s children were being targeted.

Last year, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) released a report that said the riots were a “carefully orchestrated event”.

But it said it could find no direct link to Zuma’s arrest.

In 2023, a former security guard was sentenced to 12 years in prison for his role in the deadly riots.

He was the first person to be prosecuted for the riots.

President Cyril Ramaphosa, who succeeded Jacob Zuma in 2018, described the violence as an “attempted insurrection”.

More than 200 shopping malls were looted and more than 150,000 jobs were estimated to have been lost during the unrest, which lasted for several days.

Last year, Zuma’s MK ran against his former party, the ANC, in elections, gaining 15% of the vote to become the country’s third largest party