The Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Adeyemo Adejugbe, has ordered the dissolution of a Sharia arbitration panel in Ado-Ekiti’s Central Mosque, citing potential unrest. The Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs rejected the directive, clarifying the panel’s purpose as voluntary dispute resolution among Muslims, emphasizing constitutional rights to religious practice and engagement.
The Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Adeyemo Adejugbe, has directed the dissolution of a Sharia arbitration panel established at the Central Mosque in Ado-Ekiti. During a meeting with key Muslim leaders, including Chief Imam Jamie Kewulere and traditional rulers, the monarch emphasized that while the panel was created with good intentions, its existence could spark unrest by prompting other religious groups to form similar bodies.
Highlighting the sensitivity of the issue, Adejugbe explained that the panel's activities should align with the traditional dispute resolution methods employed by the mosque's founding fathers. He stated that the decision was backed by the Ewi-in-Council and the broader community of Ado sons and daughters. The directive comes shortly after the state's commissioner of justice, Dayo Apata, clarified that Ekiti's judicial framework does not accommodate Sharia courts or arbitration panels.
In response, the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs expressed disappointment with the monarch’s stance. The council clarified that the panel was not a Sharia court but an internal arbitration mechanism for resolving disputes among Muslims voluntarily. In a statement by its president, Hammed Bakare, and spokesperson, Ahmad Yusuf, the council asserted that the freedom to practice religion is constitutionally protected and vowed to continue operating within legal boundaries.
The council urged Muslims in Ekiti to remain calm while ongoing engagements with stakeholders address the matter.
