The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), an Islamic human rights organization, has condemned the directive issued by the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, to dissolve the Shari’ah panel in Ekiti State. The group described the order as “illegal, illegitimate, and unconstitutional.”
The controversy began when the Ewi of Ado Ekiti reportedly summoned the Chief Imam of Ado Ekiti, Shaykh Jamiu Kewulere, to his palace and instructed him to disband the Shari’ah panel. This development was reported on Saturday by Chronicles Reporters.
In a statement released on Sunday by MURIC’s headquarters and signed by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, the organization expressed strong opposition to the monarch’s decision.
“The Chief Imam of Ado Ekiti, Shaykh Jamiu Kewulere, was summoned to the Ewi’s palace, where he was allegedly reprimanded and ordered to dissolve the Shari’ah panel,” the statement read.
MURIC described the directive as a violation of Section 38(i) and (ii) of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion. “The Ewi’s order is an affront to the Constitution. It is draconian, undemocratic, and contrary to global best practices,” the group asserted.
The statement further referenced Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), both of which emphasize the protection of religious freedoms.
According to MURIC, the monarch’s words, particularly his use of “never” regarding the existence of the Shari’ah panel, demonstrated intolerance toward Islam and its adherents. The group described this as “a manifestation of hatred for Islam” and accused the Ewi of overstepping his traditional authority.
MURIC also criticized the broader issue of impunity among Nigerian leaders, stating, “The problem with Nigeria is the impunity of leaders who disregard the rule of law. This leads to recurring issues that will persist until justice, fairness, and equity are upheld.”
Clarifying the role of Shari’ah panels, MURIC explained that they are committees of Islamic scholars established to address disputes related to marriage and inheritance within the Muslim community. These panels, which often operate in mosques, are not courts and have never summoned non-Muslims.
“Churches also set up committees for various purposes without interference. Since their establishment in Yorubaland in 2002, no Christian has been compelled to appear before Shari’ah panels. If anyone has evidence to the contrary, they should present it,” MURIC added.
The group warned that allowing such arbitrary actions could set a dangerous precedent. “If this order is upheld, it may lead to demands for mosques to be shut down in Yorubaland,” the statement concluded.
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