Prince Dapo Abiodun, the governor of Ogun State, has reaffirmed that the state government only acknowledges courts created by the Nigerian Constitution, stressing that Sharia Courts lack the legal authority to function in the state. Sharia Courts cannot be established by people or organizations without legal authority, the governor stated in a statement he personally signed.

This response follows a notice announcing the establishment of the state’s first Sharia court. “The Ogun State Government has noted the publication of a digital notice announcing the inauguration of a Shari’ah Court in Ogun State,” stated Governor Abiodun. Ogun State does not permit the operation of any Sharia courts.

He stated that Sharia law is not a component of the state’s legal system and named the state’s legally recognized courts, such as the Magistrates’ Courts, High Court, Customary Courts, and others.

Governor Abiodun acknowledged that people have the right to exercise their religion, but he made it clear that this right does not include the ability to create unapproved organizations or assemblies. “Without legal support, no person or organization is legally allowed to establish a court or represent themselves to the public as a court,” he stated. The Governor advised the public to ignore any summonses or documents pertaining to the unapproved Sharia Court and ordered individuals concerned to stop operations and dissolve the organization.