The Ogun State Government has issued a stern warning against attempts to establish a Sharia Court in the state, emphasizing its commitment to upholding the legal framework provided by the Nigerian Constitution.
In a statement personally signed by Governor Dapo Abiodun, the government clarified that no individual or group is permitted to establish courts without proper legal authorization. This reaction followed the circulation of a notice announcing the launch of a Sharia Court in Ogun State.
The statement reads: “The Ogun State Government has noted the circulation of a digital notice announcing the launch of a Sharia Court in Ogun State.
“No Sharia Court is authorized to operate within Ogun State. The courts that are legally empowered to adjudicate disputes arising within Ogun State are those established by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or by State Laws, which are: Magistrates’ Courts, High Court, Customary Courts, Customary Court of Appeal, Federal High Court, National Industrial Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court.”
Governor Abiodun emphasized that Sharia law does not form part of the state’s legal structure, reiterating that Ogun only recognizes courts established through constitutional and state laws. “No law operating in Ogun State has established a Sharia Court, and Sharia law does not form part of the legal framework by which the Ogun State Government administers and governs society,” the statement added.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to religious freedom, stating: “The Ogun State Government upholds and protects the rights of individuals to practice the religion of their choice, or to subscribe to no religion, and recognizes the freedom of individuals to apply their faith in their personal and private matters. However, this freedom does not extend to the formation of unauthorized assemblies or institutions.”
Calling the unauthorized Sharia Court illegal, the government directed those behind its creation to immediately halt operations. “No individual or group is legally permitted to constitute a court or present themselves to the public as a court without legal backing. Those behind that notice have no legal backing. They cannot set up a court or administer justice by fiat or public notice,” the statement warned.
Furthermore, the government urged the public to disregard any communication or summons from the unauthorized court and to report such occurrences to the state authorities.
Reassuring its citizens, the government stated, “The Ogun State Government will uphold the rule of law, ensure respect for the legal and judicial framework within the State, and prevent a breakdown of law and order.”
