The Ogun State Government has strongly warned against any attempt to establish a Sharia Court within the state, emphasizing that such an institution lacks legal backing.
In a statement signed by Governor Dapo Abiodun on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, the government clarified that no individual or group has the authority to constitute a court outside the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and existing state laws.
The warning follows the circulation of a digital notice announcing the purported launch of a Sharia Court in Ogun State.
Reacting to the development, the government reaffirmed that only courts established through constitutional provisions are legally recognized within the state.
“The Ogun State Government has noted the circulation of a digital notice announcing the launch of a Shari’ah Court in Ogun State. No Sharia Court is authorised to operate within Ogun State,” the statement read.
The statement further outlined the only legally recognized courts in the state, including the Magistrates’ Courts, High Court, Customary Courts, Customary Court of Appeal, Federal High Court, National Industrial Court, Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court.
It also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to religious freedom, stating that while individuals have the right to practice their faith, such freedom does not extend to forming unauthorized judicial assemblies.
“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 has ordered individuals involved in establishing an unauthorized court to cease activities and disband the entity, and urged the public to disregard summons and report related incidents.