, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, has called on leaders){kind=link}
The Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, has called on leaders in the South-West to support the establishment of Sharia panels across the six states in the region.
Speaking on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Channels Television, Oloyede explained that these panels, composed of Islamic scholars, are designed to resolve marriage and inheritance disputes among Muslims, promoting lasting peace.
Despite opposition from traditional institutions, Christian groups, and the Ogun and Oyo state governments, the NSCIA and the Muslim community insist that Sharia panels serve as an alternative dispute-resolution mechanism for Muslims.
Oloyede dismissed concerns over the initiative, stating that Sharia panels have existed in the region for years, citing a 2007 PhD thesis on the subject in Oyo State.
He urged critics to reconsider their stance, emphasizing that the absence of Sharia courts leaves Muslims without a proper legal framework for resolving marital issues, unlike Christians who can turn to government-licensed churches and statutory courts.
He also defended the Sultan of Sokoto’s advocacy for the panels, stating that all Nigerian Muslims follow the same faith and should be granted equal legal recognition.
Oloyede warned against unnecessary tension over the matter, stressing the need for mutual tolerance and understanding in the multi-religious South-West.