As Sharia panel spreads in the South-West, Yoruba nation agitators and some Muslims under the aegis of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) traded words on the propriety of the system in the region.
Ekiti State became the latest state in the region to host the panel after three Kadhis, Imam Abdullahi Abdul-Mutolib, Imam Abdulraheem Junaid-Bamigbola and Dr. Ibrahim Aminullahi-Ogunrinde, held a sitting on Wednesday, for the first time, at the Ado-Ekiti Central Mosque and adjudicated on two marriage-related disputes.
Before then, Sharia panels have been sitting in four other states in the region, namely, Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Osun.
As things are now, Ondo is the only state in the South-West yet to host Sharia panel.
Ekiti State government later on Thursday denied the existence of either Sharia court or panel in the state.
Earlier on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, one Pastor Oluwafemi J. Edafemi, in Ibadan, Oyo State, led a Yoruba nation group, the Yorùbá Nation Religious Council (YONAREC), to kick against Sharia panels in the South-West.
Their position was echoed at the weekend by 29 Yoruba groups of workers, artisans, students, traders and professionals spread across Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Edo, Delta, Kwara and Kogi states which “strongly oppose any attempt, open or covert, to introduce Sharia in any part of Yoruba-land”.
They added in a statement: “We hereby warn religious bigots and extremists, including very naive and shallow-minded political actors, to desist from their plots or they will face the full wrath of Yoruba people”. The statement was signed by Tajudeen Olowo- Alliance for Yoruba Democratic Movement (AYDM);
Olu Sulaiman- O’odua Nationalist Coalition (ONAC for coalition members); Hamzat Alao Oriyomi South West Professional Forum (SOWPROF); Bashorun Kunle Adesokan Federation for Yoruba Consciousness and Culture (FYCC); Dr Kola Afolabi The Covenant Group (CP); Chief Kunle Oshodi Agbekoya (Solidarity); Chief Jubril Ogundimu- O’odua Republican Front (ORF); Rasaq Oladosu – Coalition of Oodua Self Determination Groups (COSEG); Alhaji Adeyemi Taofik- Oodua Peoples Congress (Reformed); Akin Oloniyi-South West Vigilante Groups; Afiz Agunbiade – Neighbourhood Anti-Terrorist Group-Registered with CAC); Alhaja Medina Abioro- South West Women Congress, (SWWC); Alhaji Tunde Abioye – United Self Determination Groups (USEPO); Wemi Oritsegbemi Itsekiri National Youth Congress (INYC); Rasaq Arogundade Oodua – Peoples Congress (OPC-Reformed); Shenge Rahman Oodua Muslim-Christian Dialogue Group, (OMC-DG); Dr Victor Taiwo – Oodua Redemption Alliance (ORA); Chief Medaye Alatse and Mrs Tunbo Adekola – Union of West African Yoruba Communities, Ghana; Nassir Abdul Kalejaye – Nigerian Automobile Technicians Association, NATA-South West;
