Innocent Onoh
Shari’a law has been in operation in Lagos State since 2002 without qualms; Chief Imam Lagos State University (LASU) Prof. Amidu Sanni said on Wednesday.
Amidu spoke with journalists in Lagos against the backdrop of domestication of the Islamic law in the South-West Nigeria.
He described Shari’a as an Internationally and nationally recognised instrument that do not hinder societal growth when its operations are understood and administered such as in Lagos State.
The Islamic scholar said that, it was unfortunate that there has not been a proper understanding of the Islamic personal and family matters which are being wrongly interpreted as solely constituting the heart and soul of the Islamic Sharia.
According to him, it encompasses, personal, business, criminal, contract, penal matters. Matters relating to marriage, child fostering, inheritance, execution of will, divorce, and other aspects of personal matters are allowed by the Nigerian Constitution to be resolved or executed according to the Islamic judicial provisions.
“The 1999 Constitution also provides for the Sharia Court of Appeal and for elected public officials to be sworn in by the Grand Khadi of Sharia Court of the State.
“(See sections 185 (ii); 262; 275-277
Some states in the Southwest are known to be operating the facility without ripples let as long as it remains as an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is nationally and internationally recognised.
“In Lagos State, for example, the Shari’a Panel has been operating since 2002 and even published its First Law Report in 2005, during which presentation High and Appeal Court judges were present,” he said.
He said that, on many occasions, the High Courts in Lagos referred many issues of Muslim Personal Law to the Shari’a Panel as the Customary courts are declared to have no jurisdiction on such matters.
“As a matter of fact, parties to family disputes sometimes requested the conventional courts to allow their issues to be referred to the Sharia Panel in Lagos and such matters resolved without public outcry.
He called on other states especially in south west zone to emulate Lagos State in the implementation of the Shari’a, saying the Shariah legal system was independent from the customary law.
He noted that the Nigerian 1999 Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and such should be respected.
He regretted that some governors in the South-west were known to have openly opposed the Sharia panel, in spite of the known constitutional provisions.
He appealed to Muslim faithful to avoid any violent reactions but test the validity of the alleged illegal action of banning the Dispute Resolution Panel at the law court.
He charged proponents of Sharia to embark on public enlightenment to mobilise public opinions in favour of their free choice as guaranteed by the Constitution and their faith.
He decried any resort to public disturbance over it, saying the country can not afford any further threat to peace and harmonious living; already, “as we have the plate full with insurgency, kidnapping, ritual killing,”