- JAMB Registrar Oloyede urged South-West leaders to support Sharia panels to foster peace, noting their historical presence and addressing misconceptions
- Oloyede highlighted that South-West Muslims “pay psychologically for the peace” and lack structured legal frameworks for marital dispute resolution
The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, has urged South West leaders to support the establishment of Sharia panels in the region, emphasizing their potential to foster peace and religious harmony.
Oloyede, who also serves as the Secretary General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), made this statement on Sunday during an interview on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Channels Television.
Addressing misconceptions surrounding the issue, he noted that Sharia panels have existed in the South West for years, dismissing recent debates as a reflection of ignorance on the matter.
He referenced a PhD thesis on the Sharia Panel in Oyo State from 2007, authored by Prof. Makinde, to highlight the long-standing presence of these panels in the region.
Responding to concerns about religious tolerance, Oloyede stated that Muslims in the South West often bear the psychological burden of maintaining peace in the subregion.
“As a Muslim from the South West, I can say that we psychologically pay the price for the peace and harmony we enjoy,” he said.
He further explained the disparity in marital dispute resolution, noting that while churches are licensed to conduct statutory marriages, which can be resolved in government-funded courts, Muslims who marry under Islamic rites lack a similar structured legal framework.
Oloyede also pointed out that Sharia Courts of Appeal exist in various parts of the country, particularly in the North, and questioned why similar structures should not be established in the South West.