The inauguration of the Shari’ah Court scheduled for January 11, 2025 in Oyo town, Oyo State has been postponed indefinitely.
The Oyo State chapter of the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) had, through a flier, slated the event to hold at the Muslim Community Islamic Centre, Oba Adeyemi High School Road, Mobolaje Area in Oyo town, on the said date.
The Shari’ah council explained that the postponement was due to the erroneous titling of the programme as: ‘Shari’ah Court’ instead of ‘Shari’ah Independent Arbitration Panel’.
A statement issued on Tuesday by the Chairman of Oyo Muslim Community, Imam Daud Igi Ogun, who is the Khadimul Muslimeen of Oyo land, announced the indefinite suspension of the event.
According to Igi Ogun, “The name of the programme, which was erroneously written/titled: Shariah Court, instead of Shari’ah Independent Arbitration Pannel”, as reason for the suspension.
The planned unveiling of the Shari’ah Court was greeted with controversies from critics, who queried the essence of the establishment of a Shari’ah Court in Oyo community.
Also, a group, known as Yoruba Nation Youths, had rejected plans to introduce Shari’ah law, or establish Shari’ah courts in the South-West region. The group, in a statement by its Diaspora leader and Homebase Leader, Messrs Ayodele Ologunloluwa and Oyegunle Omotoyole, said they are prepared to defend their ancestral land against any attempts to impose Shari’ah law.
