Chief Imam of Lagos State University, Prof. Amidu Sanni, on Wednesday, urged other South-West states to emulate the Lagos State model of Sharia Law.
Professor Sanni spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria about the domestication of Islamic law in South-West Nigeria.
Sanni noted that Sharia law has been in operation in Lagos State since 2002 without any issues.
He described Sharia as an internationally and nationally recognised instrument that does not hinder societal growth when its operations are understood and administered, as is the case in Lagos State.
The Islamic teacher noted that it is unfortunate that there has not been a proper understanding of Islamic personal and family matters.
According to him, these are often wrongly interpreted as the sole focus of Islamic Sharia.
He said: “Sharia encompasses personal, business, criminal, contract, and penal matters.
“Matters related to marriage, child fostering, inheritance, execution of will, divorce, and other aspects of personal matters can be resolved or executed according to Islamic judicial provisions, as allowed by the Nigerian Constitution.”
Sanni also pointed out that the 1999 Constitution provides for the Sharia Court of Appeal and allows elected public officials to be sworn in by the Grand Khadi of the Sharia Court of the State.
He explained that some states in the South-West have been operating the Sharia facility without any issues, as long as it remains an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) that is nationally and internationally recognised.
“In Lagos State, for example, the Sharia Panel has been operating since 2002 and even published its First Law Report in 2005, with High and Appeal Court judges in attendance,” he said.
Sanni added that the High Courts in Lagos have often referred issues of Muslim Personal Law to the Sharia Panel, as Customary courts have no jurisdiction over such matters.
“In fact, parties to family disputes have sometimes requested that conventional courts allow their issues to be referred to the Sharia Panel in Lagos. Such matters have been resolved without public outcry,” he said.
Sanni called on other states, especially in the South-West, to emulate Lagos State in implementing Sharia, noting that the Sharia legal system is independent of customary law.
He also noted that the Nigerian 1999 Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, which, he said should be respected.
“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.”
Sanni further explained that Sharia law is not just about personal and family matters, but also encompasses other areas.
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He noted that some states in the South-West are operating the Sharia facility without any issues, and that the Sharia Panel in Lagos has been operating successfully since 2002.
However, he regretted that some governors in the South-West have openly opposed the Sharia panel, in spite of the known constitutional provisions.
He appealed to Muslims to avoid violent reactions and instead test the validity of the alleged illegal action of banning the Dispute Resolution Panel at the law court.
Sanni 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, saying the country cannot afford any further threats to peace and harmonious living, given the existing security challenges.
“As we have the plate full with insurgency, kidnapping, ritual killing,” he said, highlighting the need for peaceful resolution of disputes.
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