You’re free to approach Sharia Panel – Makinde tells Oyo residents
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has declared that any resident who wishes to settle disputes through the Sharia Panel is free to do so in the state. Makinde made this declaration during the 2025 Iftar programme organised by the state government. The event was attended by Islamic clerics, Muslim leaders, and top government functionaries in the state. While addressing the gathering, Makinde noted that he needed to clarify the plan to apply Sharia law in some states of the South-West, including Oyo. He stated that his administration would not oppose anything that aligns with the Constitution. He explained that members of the public are free to approach the Sharia Panel if they so wish. The governor, who described the panel as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism, emphasised that the courts remain constitutionally empowered to settle all disputes. According to him: “I read in the newspaper that I would go to court for an interpretation regarding the Sharia Panel, whic...