Ekiti State Denies Claims of Sharia Court Proposal, Reaffirms Commitment to Peaceful Coexistence

Written on 25/01/2025
Daily Post

The Ekiti State Government has refuted allegations regarding the establishment of a Sharia Court or an Independent Sharia Arbitration Panel within the state.

In a statement released by Dayo Apata, SAN, the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, the government reaffirmed its dedication to promoting peaceful coexistence among residents of diverse backgrounds.

The statement emphasized that no such plans exist and urged the public to disregard misinformation.



Apata clarified that the state’s judicial structure does not include a Sharia Court or a similar arbitration panel.

He explained that issues of arbitration and mediation are quasi-judicial matters regulated by law and adequately handled by existing legal institutions in Ekiti.

According to him, “there is no Independent Sharia Arbitration Panel in the judicial structure of the State,” as he noted that “Arbitration and/or mediation issues are quasi-judicial matters which are regulated by law” in the state.

He further noted that the state has legal structures, including the Customary Court, Customary Court of Appeal, and High Court, which, he said, handle cases relating to Islamic, Christian, and traditional marriages, as well as inheritance disputes.

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