The Ekiti State Government has denied the presence of any Sharia Court or an Independent Sharia Arbitration Panel within its judicial structure. This clarification was made in a statement issued by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dayo Apata (SAN), on behalf of the state government.
Apata explained that matters involving arbitration and mediation are already regulated by law in the state. He pointed out that Ekiti’s existing judicial framework includes the Customary Court, the Customary Court of Appeal, and the High Court, which effectively handle cases involving Islamic, Christian, and traditional marriages, as well as inheritance disputes.
“The Sharia Courts in the North are equivalent to the Customary Courts in the Southern part of Nigeria wherein the Appeals therefrom also goes to the Sharia Court of Appeal,” Apata noted. He added that Ekiti’s Customary Courts and Customary Court of Appeal are equipped to address customary issues, including disputes arising from Yoruba traditional marriages, Islamic marriages, and Christian marriages, particularly those not recognized as statutory marriages. Statutory marriages, he clarified, can only be dissolved by the state’s High Courts, a standard observed throughout Nigeria.
Apata further noted that the state’s judiciary includes arbitration and mediation mechanisms at various levels, ensuring a broad and inclusive approach to resolving disputes. While addressing concerns, he stressed the importance of managing religious issues with care to avoid disrupting the state’s peace and harmony.
He warned against actions that could threaten Ekiti’s commitment to peaceful coexistence among residents. The Attorney-General remarked that the government remains firm in its stance against any activity that could incite hostility or undermine the prevailing peace in the state.
Apata also called on religious leaders to avoid being influenced by political actors or individuals with hidden agendas. “The government would 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,” he stated.
