An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has accused the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, of suppressing Muslim rights following his recent rejection of a purported Shari’ah court in the state.
In a statement released on Monday, 10th February 2025, MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, described the governor’s remarks as “speculative, provocative, manipulative, and opportunistic.” The organization alleged that Governor Abiodun’s stance was part of a broader attempt, similar to that of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, to undermine Islamic practices in the South-West.
Governor Abiodun had, on Tuesday, 4th February 2025, disassociated his administration from any move to establish a Shari’ah court in Ogun, ordering those behind it to disband immediately. However, MURIC insisted that no such court was being established, clarifying that what exist are Shari’ah panels, which serve as alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms within mosques, legally recognized for handling civil matters among Muslims.
“Abiodun’s statement is speculative, provocative, manipulative, and opportunistic. He danced to the gallery created by unrepentant irredentists, sugarcoated mouthers, social media megaphones, and merchants of anarchy,” MURIC said.
The group further accused Abiodun and Makinde of operating a “council of Christian governors whose sole mandate is to wage a vicious war against Islam and the Muslims in the South-West.”
According to Akintola, “This informal executive competition, in which the two governors seek to out-Herod Herod in making life unbearable for Muslims in their states, must not go unchallenged. Yoruba Muslims must use every legitimate means available to stop the oppression.”
MURIC stressed that Shari’ah panels, unlike courts, do not require state approval and have long been in existence.
“Shari’ah panels constitute alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms recognized by law, and Muslims are free to use their mosques for the settlement of disputes among themselves without seeking approval from any government before establishing them. There is no law anywhere in the Nigerian Constitution that makes the establishment of Shari’ah panels illegal,” the group asserted.
The organization warned against attempts to silence Muslims and restrict Islamic practices in the South-West.
“The governments of Oyo and Ogun states are weaponizing state paraphernalia to stem the practice of Islam and the proper worship of Allah as He should be worshipped in Yorubaland. These governors want to silence the voice of Islam. They are intolerant Christian governors,” MURIC alleged.
The group urged Muslim leaders in the South-West to resist what it called oppression, stating, “Muslims must speak out. We must put an end to this mental slavery imposed on Yoruba Muslims by the imperialists. This mental enslavement was first perpetrated by the British Christian colonialists and is currently being perpetuated by agents of feudalism, neo-colonialism, and neo-imperialism.”
Citing past international cases of political figures prosecuted for crimes against humanity, MURIC warned, “Holding an executive government position is no immunity against prosecution in the future. Neither is being a separatist agitator a license. We will finger all big and small collaborators if Muslims are targeted for killing. The world is a small village.”
