In the face of mounting opposition from Yoruba sociocultural organizations, the Independent Shari’ah Arbitration Panel in Ekiti State convened its first public meeting last Thursday at the Oja Oba Central Mosque in Ado-Ekiti. Locals attested to the development, and Prof. Ishaq Akintola, Executive Director of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), hailed the action as a positive step toward justice for the Muslim community.

Two marriage-related issues were resolved by the panel, which was chaired by Imam Abdullahi Abdul-Mutolib, Imam Abdulraheem Junaid-Bamigbola, and Dr. Ibrahim Aminullahi-Ogunrinde.

While the second case, which had claims of a husband’s maltreatment, was postponed until January 30 for additional research, the first case was settled amicably by a consent judgment made possible by family mediation.

Despite the panel’s emphasis on settling conflicts within the Muslim community, there has been criticism, primarily from the Afenifere chapters in the UK and Europe. The group cautioned that such measures could cause division among Yoruba people and criticized calls for the implementation of Shari’ah law in the South-West.

Afenifere warned against splitting the Yoruba along religious lines, stating that the South-West is culturally different from the mostly Muslim Northern zone. This area is renowned for its enlightenment and intelligence. The organization declared, “We must not permit religious differences to separate us.