Islamic Group To Unveil Sharia Court In Oyo Amid Public Backlash

The Oyo State chapter of the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) has announced plans to inaugurate a Sharia court in Oyo State on January 11, 2025.

The ceremony is scheduled to hold at the Muslim Community Islamic Centre, Oba Adeyemi High School Road, Mobolaje Area in Oyo town.

The event, as detailed in a flier that circulated widely on social media on Tuesday, will feature prominent figures, including the Bashorun of Oyo land, High Chief Yusuf Akinade Olayinka as the Royal Father of the Day, Alhaji Abdullateef Eleyele as the Spiritual Father of the Day, and Alhaji Tajudeen Kamorise as the Chief Host.

However, the planned unveiling of the Islamic court has sparked significant backlash, particularly online, as critics question the introduction of Sharia law in the predominantly Yoruba Southwest, a region with diverse religious and cultural practices.

Critics took to social media to voice their concerns, with many expressing fears about the implications of Sharia law in Oyo.

One user on X (formerly Twitter), identified as #OurFavOnlineDoc, warned about potential abuses: “To whom it may concern, Please read this post and listen well. If Sharia law gets implemented in your state, let me tell you ahead what will happen. You can be randomly arrested and imprisoned for ‘indecent dressing,’ EVEN IF you are not a Muslim, EVEN IF you are a Christian, EVEN IF you are a traditionalist, EVEN IF you don’t subscribe to Sharia, and EVEN IF you are an atheist.”

The user further argued, “During Ramadan, you can be arrested for selling food. Even if you are not a Muslim. Once you hear ‘Sharia law,’ just run for your life. They will use it to kill, imprison, cut off people’s limbs, torture, and institutionalise oppression. And guess who the biggest victims will be? The poor and the less privileged. You better lend your voice to say no.”

Another user, #BabaAjisefa, echoed similar sentiments, “If you’re silent on this Sharia law saga in the Southwest, then you’re enabling it. We reject Sharia law in its entirety. No to Sharia law in Yorubaland.”

Others argued that such laws would bring no progress to the region, citing examples from Northern Nigeria where Sharia law was already in practice.

Motolani Alake, another user, connected the issue to larger national challenges, “This Sharia law conversation proves that amalgamating Nigeria was a terrible decision, and true federalism/regional sectionalism or ‘un-amalgamation’ would be the solution. No country should ever be subjected to such extreme religious practices.”

Despite the growing controversy, attempts by our correspondent to reach the Chairman and Secretary of the Sharia Committee in Oyo State, Dr. Rafiu Bello and Sulaimon Abuqoodi were unsuccessful. Calls and messages to their mobile numbers went unanswered.