Sharia Court Not Recognised In Ekiti – Govt
The Ekiti State Government has stated that neither a Sharia Court nor an Independent Sharia Arbitration Panel is recognised under the state’s legal framework.
Dayo Apata, the state’s Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, made this clear in a statement released in Ado Ekiti on Thursday while reacting to reports of the Sharia Panel’s recent public sittings to resolve marriage disputes.
Apata said, “There is an existing legal structure in Ekiti State (i.e. Customary Court, Customary Court of Appeal and High Court) that has been handling issues relating to Islamic, Christian and traditional marriages and inheritance without any rancour or agitation.”
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He emphasised that arbitration and mediation fall under quasi-judicial matters regulated by law, explaining, “The Sharia Courts in the North are equivalent to the Customary Courts in the Southern part of Nigeria. Wherein appeals from Sharia Courts in the North go to Sharia Court of Appeal, the state similarly has Customary Court of Appeal that hears appeals from the Customary Courts.”
Apata added that existing courts in the state, including High Courts, already have mechanisms to handle arbitration and mediation.
He said, “Customary Courts and the Customary Court of Appeal can effectively take care of any customary issues arising from Yoruba traditional marriages, Islamic marriages and Christian marriages, especially the ones that were not backed-up by the statutory marriages which can only be dissolved by the states High Courts throughout Nigeria.”
Warning against actions that could disrupt peace in the state, Apata said, “Government will not compromise on any action that may hinder the prevailing peace and fester hostility in the state.”
He further urged religious leaders to avoid being used by politicians to cause unrest, stating, “The government is not unmindful of the fact the race for the 2026 governorship election is gathering momentum in Ekiti State and opposition members who cannot fault the performance of the state government have resorted to all sorts of unethical practices.
“Government will not hesitate to invoke the full weight of the law to protect the constitution of the federation and maintain peaceful co-existence in the state.”
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
