The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria, Oyo State chapter, has indefinitely postponed the inauguration of its Sharia court, originally scheduled for January 11, 2025. The decision was announced in a statement signed by Imam Daud Igi Ogun, the Khadimul Muslimeen of Oyo Kingdom, on Tuesday.
The statement, which was directed to the public, read: “On behalf of the Oyo Muslim indigenes, this is to inform the general public that the inauguration ceremony of the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (Oyo branch) previously scheduled for January 11th, 2025, at the Muslim Community Islamic Center, Oba Adeyemi High School Road, Mobolaje Area, Agbongangan, Oyo, has been suspended until further notice. Islam portrays peace!”
The announcement comes after a flier went viral earlier on Tuesday, inviting guests from across the country to the inauguration event, which was planned to take place at the Muslim Community Islamic Centre in Oyo. The flier had also listed prominent figures such as Bashorun of Oyo land, High Chief Yusuf Akinade Olayinka 1, as the Royal Father of the Day, and Mufairu of Oyo land, Alhaji Abdullateef Eleyele, as the Spiritual Father of the Day, with Alhaji Tajudeen Kamorise, Aare Musulumi of Oyo land, as the Chief Host.
However, the proposed inauguration has faced significant opposition, with many social media users voicing concerns over the appropriateness of establishing a Sharia court in the South West, a region predominantly populated by Yoruba people. Critics argued that the region’s demographic and cultural makeup made the move contentious, especially in contrast with the northern parts of Nigeria, where Islam and Sharia law are more widely practiced.
The postponement of the inauguration has since calmed some of the public’s concerns, but the issue is likely to continue to stir debate across the state and the nation. The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria has yet to provide details on when the inauguration will be rescheduled.
