Ewi-in-Council of Ado Ekiti Decisively Orders Suspension of Controversial Shari’ah Arbitration Panel in Ekiti

The Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, has ordered the immediate dissolution of the Shari’ah Arbitration Panel established at the Central Mosque, Ado Ekiti. This decision, announced on Saturday, aims to maintain peaceful coexistence, law, and order in the community. The directive follows growing concerns over the legality and implications of the panel, which had already begun handling marriage disputes.

During a high-level meeting convened by the traditional ruler, key stakeholders—including the Chief Imam and President of the League of Imams and Alfas in the Southwest, Edo, and Delta states, Sheik Jamiu Kewulere—engaged in discussions over the controversy. The move comes just days after the Ekiti State government clarified that the existing legal structure does not recognize Shari’ah courts or arbitration panels in the state.

Ewi-in-Council’s Position on the Shari’ah Panel

Oba Adejugbe made it clear that the establishment of the Shari’ah panel was not in line with the traditions of the Ado Ekiti community. He emphasized that the community had long settled disputes amicably without formalized religious arbitration panels. According to him, allowing such a structure to operate could set a precedent that might lead to division and unrest among religious groups in the state.

“We all listened and it appears they set up a committee at the Central Mosque with the intention to listen to disputes,” the monarch stated. “They claimed to have good intentions, but I told them the mood of the nation will not allow such to happen now. The founding fathers of the mosque settled disputes without setting up a committee, and we must maintain that tradition.” He further declared that the panel’s dissolution was the collective decision of the Ewi-in-Council and all Ado Ekiti indigenes.

Ekiti State Government’s Legal Stand on the Matter

The suspension of the Shari’ah panel aligns with the position of the Ekiti State government, which had earlier dismissed the legitimacy of any such panel. The state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dayo Apata (SAN), emphasized that the state’s legal framework—comprising the Customary Court, Customary Court of Appeal, and High Court—already caters to matters involving Islamic, Christian, and traditional marriages.

Apata’s statement came in response to reports of the Shari’ah panel holding its first public sitting and resolving two marriage disputes. He reiterated that Ekiti’s legal structure has been effectively managing marital and inheritance issues across all religious groups without any need for a separate religious arbitration panel. His stance reflects a broader governmental commitment to maintaining uniform legal governance across all ethnic and religious demographics in the state.

Chief Imam Kewulere’s Reaction and Clarifications

In response to the directive, Chief Imam Sheik Jamiu Kewulere confirmed that the Shari’ah panel was initially set up to address inheritance disputes among Muslim faithful. He insisted that its establishment was solely for internal conflict resolution within the Muslim community and was not intended to challenge the legal authority of the state.

Kewulere dismissed allegations that the panel had external influence or sinister motives, stating, “Muslims and adherents of other religions in Ekiti have coexisted peacefully over the years. The committee was merely a means to address inheritance matters in line with Islamic customs.” However, in deference to the Ewi-in-Council’s directive, he acknowledged the need to revert to previous informal methods of dispute resolution within the community.

Implications for Religious and Social Harmony in Ekiti

The dissolution of the Shari’ah Arbitration Panel highlights the delicate balance between religious practices and legal governance in Ekiti State. While the intention behind the panel may have been benign, its existence raised concerns about possible fragmentation of the legal system. The Ewi of Ado Ekiti’s intervention underscores the role of traditional institutions in maintaining societal harmony and preventing potential religious conflicts.

By insisting on a unified approach to dispute resolution, the Ewi-in-Council aims to prevent other religious or traditional groups from setting up parallel structures, which could lead to broader sectarian divisions. The decision also reinforces the authority of the state’s judicial system in handling all civil and marital disputes. With both the traditional institution and the state government taking a firm stand, this episode serves as a precedent for upholding communal peace and adherence to established legal processes in Ekiti State.