Lagos Muslims demand Sharia Court
Muslims obseving prayers
Subair Mohammed
The Muslim Community of Lagos State (MCLS) has demanded the establishment of a Sharia Court in Lagos as that would help in adjudicating on cases affected the Muslims populace in the state.
The Muslim community made the demand at an interaction session organised with the Governorship candidate of Alliance for Democracy Candidate, Owolabi Salis yesterday at the Lagos Central Mosque, Victoria-Island, Lagos.
The event had Muslim clerics from Ikorodu, Epe, Badagry, Ikeja and other parts in Lagos. Their demands revolved around seven thematic areas which include: Education, environment, health, women and youths, political matters, judiciary, and economy.
The group said that the need for Sharia court is premised on the fact that personal matters of Muslims are been decided upon by people who know little or nothing about Islamic or sharia laws.
“The constitutions of Nigeria provides that the state can establish sharia court but over the years, there is nor in Lagos”, he said.
They noted that issues that concern Muslims such as marriage, divorces, inheritance and personal matter can be handles sufficiently in a Sharia court created, averse and protected by the Muslim Judges and jury.
They added that although the present government has done a lot to improve the judiciary sector as Lagos state has the highest courts in Nigeria; they said that Lagos state government needs more court to meet the growing demands for justice as the population increases.
The group posited further to asked the governorship candidate to include more Muslims as judges in Lagos High Court as there are lots of lopsided appointment against Muslims Judges in the state.
The group added that the population of Muslims in Lagos is more than 50% of the populace and some of the judges are Muslim and some are nor Muslims.
Also, the group called for more investment in the provision of quality health care facilities and educational opportunities for the teeming youths in the state, noting that health and education are key factors in the development of the people.
In his response, the Governorship candidate Owolabi Salis promised to set up a committee to look into that request, adding that religious leaders must continue to speak out against injustice and inequity in the state.
He said that the voice of religious leaders is the voice of the people and is important that religious leaders do not keep silence when it matters most as it will not be to the interest of the people.
He pledged the commitment of his administration toward meeting the needs of the rural poor in the state if elected into office.
“I travelled round the world and I know what megacity is all about and I am ready to be committed toward building a virile Lagos. We need to deliberately bridge the gap between the rich and the poor in the state”, he said.
He stressed that the image of the black race is Lagos and they are constantly looking up for quality leadership in Lagos.
