Justice Abdurraheem Sayi, Qadi of the Shari’ah Court of Appeal in Kwara State, has stated that South-West state governments and traditional rulers have no legal authority to prevent Muslims from establishing and operating Shari’ah arbitration panels.

Shari’ah Arbitration as a Legal Right
Speaking at the University of Lagos Muslim Alumni’s 30th Pre-Ramadan Lecture on Sunday, Justice Sayi described opposition to Shari’ah arbitration in the region as legally baseless and rooted in Islamophobia. He emphasized that arbitration is purely contractual and does not require government approval.

“Nobody needs the approval of the Federal Government to operate arbitration. The Nigerian Constitution is clear on this,” he said.

He stressed that Shari’ah arbitration panels function similarly to private dispute resolution committees, including those used by political parties, and do not interfere with state authority.

Call for Inclusion of Shari’ah Courts
Justice Sayi criticized the exclusion of Muslims from the family law system in South-West states, arguing that there are no courts in the region equipped to handle Islamic marriage dissolutions or child custody cases under Islamic law.

“It’s as if we are second-class citizens in these states,” he remarked, urging South-West governments to allow the establishment of Shari’ah courts to provide Muslims with a legal framework for personal and family matters.

He also noted that Lagos High Court judges have, in some cases, referred litigants to independent Shari’ah panels due to a lack of legal provisions addressing Islamic family law disputes.

Broader Legal and Social Implications
Citing the Arbitration and Mediation Act of 2023, Justice Sayi reiterated that private citizens have the right to form arbitral panels and determine their legal framework.

He questioned why Muslims in Lagos, Osun, and Ogun—where they form a significant part of the population—are denied legal structures such as Shari’ah courts, which address their personal and family matters.

Professor Mashood Baderin of the University of London also spoke at the event, urging Muslims to uphold their faith while contributing positively to society.