Muslims in the South West region under the umbrella of Muslim Ummah of
South-West Nigeria (MUSWEN) have urged Governors of some south-west
states to establish Shari‘ah Courts in the region.
The Muslim group directed its request to governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo
State, Gboyega Oyetola of Osun, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state as well as
Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti and Babajide
Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), through a communique signed by its chairman at the
end of the 4th MUSWEN General Assembly held in Ibadan.
They claimed that the creation of the Shari’ah courts in the six
states of the region is necessary in order to cater to the yearnings
of Muslims in the area, who are in the majority.
The MUSWEN General Assembly which had the theme, “Muslim Unity and
Contemporary Political Challenges in Nigeria”, was chaired by Alhaji
Ishaq Kunle Sanni and supported by Professor Wole Abbas, Chairman, 4th
General Assembly.
In the communique made available to newsmen on Sunday, the group
maintained that Shari’ah courts when established, would replace
Shari‘ah panels being operated presently by Muslim organisations in
the region.
The organisation also insisted that the institution of Hijab is
sacrosanct in Islam and cannot be compromised for Muslim girls and
women in any part of the country.
It frowned at what it termed a political lopsidedness against Muslims
in the Southwest and at the Federal Level.
“Shari‘ah court should be established by governments in the
Southwestern Nigeria to cater to the yearnings of Muslims who are in
the majority, to replace Shari‘ah Panels being operated presently by
Muslim organizations’’.
MUSWEN is also advocating proper administration of justice, it says
there is a need for an urgent judicial reform, taking a cue from the
principle of Islamic Judicial System.
“There have been some modest improvements in the state of the nation
under the present administration, the Federal Government should
intensify efforts to diversify the economy of the nation and Muslims
in the country should go about demanding for their rights in
accordance with the law’’
“The institution of Hijab is sacrosanct in Islam and cannot be
compromised for Muslim girls and women in any part of the country.
MUSWEN acknowledges the harmonious activities of the indefatigable
President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs
(NSCIA) and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Dr. Muhammad Sa’ad
Abubakar CFR, mni and urges all Muslim Organizations in the South West
to cooperate with him in his efforts at piloting the affairs of
Nigerian Muslim Ummah.
