Gani Adams Criticizes Sultan’s Support for Sharia Courts in South-West
The endorsement of Sharia courts in the South-West by the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has sparked strong opposition from Yoruba leaders, particularly Gani Adams, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland. Adams warned that introducing Sharia courts in the region could destabilize Yoruba communities and disrupt the secular legal system already in place.
The NSCIA argues that Sharia courts are constitutionally backed and necessary to protect the rights of Muslims in the South-West, particularly in matters of marriage, inheritance, and personal law. However, Adams dismissed this claim, stating that Sharia law is foreign to Yoruba culture and that existing customary courts already handle similar cases without religious bias. He cautioned that introducing religious courts could create unnecessary jurisdictional conflicts and fuel religious tensions in a historically pluralistic region.
Legal experts note that Sharia courts currently operate in 12 northern states, where Islam is dominant, but their expansion into multi-religious regions like the South-West could complicate Nigeria’s already delicate legal and religious balance. Civil society groups have echoed Adams’ concerns, warning that this move could set a precedent for parallel religious legal systems, potentially undermining national unity.
As the debate intensifies, calls for dialogue and constitutional clarity have emerged, with stakeholders urging caution to preserve peace and respect Nigeria’s secular framework while ensuring religious rights are protected.
