The grand Qadi of the Kwara State Shariah Court of Appeal ,Justice Abdul-Lateef Kamaldeen on Saturday inaugurated 11-man Ekiti State Arbitration Panel ,with a promise that the panel would serve justice to all, regardless of religion affiliation.
Delivering his speech at the ceremony ,Justice Kamaldeen described Shariah as fundamental rights of muslims in Ekiti, which is said was long overdue.
He admonished panel members to discharge their duties with utmost dedication, equity, fairness and above all with the fear of Allah.
The Lordship who was accompanied to the ceremony by Hon Justice AbdurRaheem Ahmad Sayi ,(Kadi,Shariah Court of Appeal,Kwara State)warned them against favouritism or betrayal of trust ” the inauguration of Shariah Panel in Ekiti State is a right step in the right direction.Be just in whatever you are doing because Allah,SWT, is watching you. Dont falsify document before you to favour anyone. Let’s start shariah from our various Homes .
The grand Qadi urged Muslim stakeholders in Ekiti state to engage other relevant stakeholders on the need to have Area Court and Sharia Court of Appeal in the State.
“While the independent Sharia Panel we are inaugurating today is a right step in that direction, we must know and realize that it is just a temporal arrangement. Muslims, like adherents of other religions, are citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and residents of Ekiti State, living and conducting their affairs peacefully and abiding by the laws of the State including payment of taxes, levies and other charges, it is only logical that Muslims be allowed to have the right forum for the dispensation of justice in accordance with the dictates of their religion that is Islamic Law.
“The fact that a State has not created courts for the operation of Islamic Law does not disentitle the Muslims therein from exercising their right to Islamic personal law. According to Muntaka Coomassie JCA (as he then was) “the issue of Islamic personal law has transcended the state law. It is now governed by the provisions of the Constitution.” See. Mandara vs. Amin (Supra). Therefore, the absence of Sharia Court in Oyo State does not deprive the Muslims in the State of their inalienable right to practice Islamic personal law and the Islamic rights enshrined in the Constitution.”
” The Common law courts i.e High Court and Magistrate Court lack the competence to entertain matters of Islamic law, just as the Customary Court is a court for the administration of customary law only. Why then should any government continue to perpetuate this imbalance and unfair treatment against a religious group?! There is clearly no justification for such.
It is hoped that in no distant time, the Government of Ekiti State will rise to the occasion and establish the Sharia Court for the administration of justice in Islamic personal law.
He appreciated the Ekiti State government for granting the request to hold the event as proposed .
In his address , Governor Biodun Oyebanji represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaja(Dr) Habibat Adubiaro said his administration will continue to promote peace and religion harmony.
The governor who thanked Ekiti Muslim community for their support also urged them to always pray for peace and development of Ekiti.
Oyebanji said his administration had appointed more muslims into positions in recent time. He promised to always carry the Ummah along in the implementation of government’s policies and programmes.
The President General League of Imams and Alfas Alfas SouthWest, Edo,Delta,Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere urged the panel members to see the assignment as a trust and a big challenge.
He equally urged them to upscale their knowledge about Islamic jurisprudence inorder to perform their duties optimally.
The President Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Ekiti State, Dr Hammed Bakare disclosed that the Shariah Panel is made up erudite scholars and distinguished Ulamas .
He hinted that mrmbrrs have promised to sacrifice their time ,energy and resources in ensuring smooth take off the assigned duties .
” We are doing this today to contribute our quota to the administration of justice in Ekiti State by the dictate of Allah .
“We hoped that the governor of Ekiti State ,Mr Biodun Oyebanji before the completion of his two terms in office would facilitate the establishment of Shariah Court in Ekiti State ,as provided for in the 1999 Constitution (as amended ).The governor allows our female pupils and students to wesr Hijab in schools as well as Muslim workers without resorting to litigation. We thank the governor for this “Dr Bakare said .
Earlier in his welcome address ,the chairman of the planning Committee, Barrister Tajudeen Tolulope Ahmed said the implementation of the Shariah adjudication process shall commence shortly after the Inuagutation of the panel .He disclosed that a section of the Central Mosque OjaOba shall be the temporary secretariat.
He however called for donations from well meaning individuals and spirited organisations for the smooth operation of the panel .
In his remarks ,the former Deputy Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt Hin Hakeem Jamiu congratulated Ekiti muslims for the positive development.
He promised to lobby his colleagues lawmakers in the Assembly to ensure speedy passage of the bill seeking establishment of Shariah Court in Ekiti State .
The Ekiti State Shariah Panel has Ustaz Sulayman- Ghaniy Isikaye as Chairman ,while Imam Abdullah Abdul- Mutolib Muhsmmed , Imaam AndurRaheem Junaid Bsmgbola and Imaam Subair Ojutiri were members
Also included in the panel were, professor Kamaldeen Olawale Suleiman, Barrister Sirajudeen Idowu Owoeye, Alhaji Abdul-Lateef Mutair
Others were ; Dr Ibrahim Aminulah Ogunrinde, Barrister Andur Tasaq Yusuf, Alhaja Aisha Jimoh and Barrister ( Mrs) Khadijah Adeniyi.