IT IS SUBJUDICE: MURIC REJECTS MAKINDE’S CHOICE OF ALAAFIN

 

10^th January, 2025

Press Release:

IT IS SUBJUDICE: MURIC REJECTS MAKINDE’S CHOICE OF ALAAFIN

The government of Oyo State has announced the appointment of Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo. The Oyo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, made the announcement today, Friday, 10^th January, 2025.

But the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has described the appointment as illegal, illegitimate, unlawful, unconstitutional and the height of impunity.

The Islamic human rights organization reacted a few hours after the announcement on Friday, 10^th January, 2025 via a press statement issued by the Chairman and secretary of the organization in Oyo State, Barrister Abdulwaheed Lawal and Amb. Mallam Ibrahim Agunbiade respectively.

 

They said:

“The government of Oyo State has announced the appointment of Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo. The Oyo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, made the announcement today, Friday, 10^th January, 2025 (https://oyoinsight.com/despite-litigation-makinde-approves-new-alaafin/).

“This appointment is illegal, illegitimate, unlawful and unconstitutional. It is the height of impunity.

“It is surprising that Governor Seyi Makinde could ignore the recent letter written by the Oyo Kingmakers, expressing their displeasure with the Governor's attempt to restart the selection process despite a pending court case. The new selection is therefore subjudice.

“Besides, Makinde has made a caricature of the tradition and custom of the ancient town of Oyo Alaafin with this appointment. It is lawlessness without borders.”

Barr Abdulwaheed Lawal,

Chairman,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC),

Oyo State Chapter.

 

Amb. Mallam Ibrahim Agunbiade,

Secretary,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC),

Oyo State Chapter.

 

MURIC CELEBRATES ACADIP AT 30

 

10th January 2025

PRESS RELEASE

MURIC CELEBRATES ACADIP AT 30

The Academy of Islamic Propagation (ACADIP) Nigeria began its five-day long program to mark three decades of da’wah on Wednesday, 8th January, 2025. Meanwhile, the Oyo State branch of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has sent a message of brotherhood and solidarity to the Islamic body and institution. 

MURIC described ACADIP as the leading Islamic Organization in Nigeria and Africa at large in the area of propagating Islam through comparative dawah.

 

 

 

MURIC’s solidarity message was contained in a statement given to newsmen on Friday, 10th January 2025. The statement was signed by the chairman and secretary of the organization in Oyo State, Barrister Abdulwaheed Lawal and Amb. Mallam Ibrahim Agunbiade respectively.

 

The statement reads:

"A foremost Islamic organization and institute of comparative dawah, the Academy of Islamic Propagation (ACADIP), began its five-day long program on Wednesday, 8th January 2025 to mark three decades of da’wah. The celebrations will come to an end on Sunday, 12th January 2025 at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, Ibadan.

“MURIC expresses its unflinching solidarity with ACADIP on this momentous occasion. We celebrate with the National President and Chief Lecturer of this great organization, Mallam Yusuf Adepoju, whose visionary guidance and exemplary leadership have propelled ACADIP to greater heights.

"It's been three decades of preaching the words to the world by our amiable and extraordinary intellectual Scholar whom Allah has chosen to guide and lead thousands of non-Muslims of Nigeria and beyond to Islam. He has distinguished himself with his eloquent delivery through surgical analysis of the Glorious Qur'an, Hadith, and the Bible.

"ACADIP is a golden lamp that has illuminated all that is around it. Millions of Nigerians have benefitted from its programs, particularly revertees. ACADIP Primary Schools are spread throughout Southwest Nigeria. This is apart from its empowerment programs for women, youths and the elderly.

"MURIC appeals to the federal and state governments in the country as well as Muslim philanthropists to vigorously fund projects of ACADIP. 

 

 

 

 

“We Charge the organization to remain focused and to pay greater attention to its youth wing to preserve its enduring culture of spiritual and social growth." 

“MURIC celebrates you on this milestone of achievement and prays that Almighty Allah never forsakes you. May your light continue to shine bright across the world. Aameen.”

#Acadip3decades 

#SheikhYusufAdepoju

#MuricCelebratesAcadip

 

Barr Abdulwaheed Lawal

Chairman 

Muslim Rights Concern

 (MURIC) 

Oyo State Chapter 

 

Amb. Mallam Ibrahim Agunbiade

General Secretary

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

Oyo State Chapter

 

MURIC CONGRATULATES TVC ON OPENING OF NEW LOCATION

 

9^th January, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC CONGRATULATES TVC ON OPENING OF NEW LOCATION

  

An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has congratulated Television Continental (TVC) on its opening of a new location at Eko Atlantic City four years after the #EndSARS protesters attacked the television station. The group described destroyers as agents of the devil who have now been put to shame.

This was contained in a press statement issued on Thursday, 9^th January, 2025 by the Executive Director of the group, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

The statement reads:

“Television Continental (TVC), one of the leading media houses in Nigeria opened its new location at Eko Atlantic City on Monday, 6^th January, 2025, four years after #EndSARS protesters attacked the television station.

“It will be recalled that the headquarters of the media house located at Ketu-Ikosi, Lagos, was burned down in a premeditated attack by hoodlums on 21^st October, 2020 during a live programme (https://dailytrust.com/breaking-tvc-on-fire/). Once again, we reiterate our condemnation of the attack on TVC. It was heinous, horrendous and preposterous.

“Today, we stand on the threshold of history to rejoice with and congratulate TVC as it opens its new location at Eko Atlantic City. This new location includes state-of-the-art digital studios which are considered the largest and most advanced in sub-Saharan Africa.  

 It is indeed the actualization of the adage that says the king’s house that burns has only added more beauty to the structure. At this juncture, we pay tribute to the men and women journalists, both management and staff of TVC, who have worked assiduously to put agents of the devil to shame. We give special kudos to the courageous, visionary and dynamic TVC management.

“As advocates of dialogue and friends of the Fourth Estate of the Realm, we condemn all acts of violence and coercion perpetrated against journalists and media houses. We join the Committee To Protect Journalists (CPJ) in condemning the detention, harassment and attacks on several Nigerian journalists in the line of duty.  

“MURIC advises violent-prone youths to think twice before looting or burning properties. Media houses in particular are monuments of liberty and mementos of our hard-won democracy. They are sacred souvenirs of our freedom. They deserve respect in times of crisis.

“Those who attack media houses are therefore, more often than not, nay-sayers, authors of negativity, rebellious subjects, enemies of truth, antagonists of progress and die-hard advocatus diaboli.

“We charge Nigerians to reject destroyers. We must declare merchants of violence persona non grata in our lives. That does not mean that we must kowtow to all poohpooh from the system. We can still register our grievances with civility, adopting decorum and electing dialogue.

“Once again, MURIC congratulates TVC and commends the resilience of both management and staff. The opening of this new location is light at the end of the tunnel. It is victory of righteousness over evil.”

#TVCEkoAtlanticCity

#CongratulationsTVC

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

SHARIAH PANEL: YORUBA MUSLIMS NOT AFRAID OF LEGAL ACTION – MURIC TELLS YORUBA GROUP

 

7^th January, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:

SHARIAH PANEL: YORUBA MUSLIMS NOT AFRAID OF LEGAL ACTION – MURIC TELLS YORUBA GROUP

  

A Yoruba group under the name Yoruba Council Worldwide (Igbimo Apapo Yoruba Lagbaye) has threatened to take legal action against Muslims planning to launch Shari’ah panel in Oyo town, Oyo State if they go ahead with the plan. But the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has told the Yoruba group that Yoruba Muslims are not afraid of legal action.

The Islamic human rights group corrected the impression that a court was being inaugurated. It insisted that what was being planned was not a Shari’ah court but a Shari’ah panel which has been in existence in Yorubaland since 2003 to date. It therefore accused the Yoruba group of making a mountain out of a molehill.

MURIC’s declaration came in a press release issued on Tuesday 7^th January, 2025. It was signed by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

It reads in full:

“A Yoruba group under the name Yoruba Council Worldwide (Igbimo Apapo Yoruba Lagbaye) has threatened to take legal action against Muslims planning to launch Shari’ah ‘court’ in Oyo town, Oyo State if they go ahead with the plan.

“But this is a deliberate attempt to create tension because, in reality, nobody is planning to inaugurate a Shari’ah court. What is being planned in Oyo town is a Shari’ah panel. It is only the state or Federal Government that has the constitutional power to create a court.

“On the contrary, any group of people can set up a panel. A panel is just a committee. A group can set up a committee or panel and an organization can do same. The Yoruba group is just crying wolf where there is none because we explained all these in our statement of Thursday, 26^th December, 2024 (https://independent.ng/shariah-makinde-needs-briefing-muric/).

“We want to correct the impression that Oyo Muslims plan to inaugurate a Shari’ah court. What Oyo Muslims are planning is not a Shari’ah ‘court’ but a Shari’ah panel. This is something that has been in existence in Yorubaland since 2003 to date. It therefore accused the Yoruba group of making a mountain out of a molehill.

“How sensible is it for anyone to say Muslims should not form a committee? How logical is it to say Muslims should not hold meetings inside their mosques and halls? This Yoruba group is not well informed, otherwise it should have known that what it is trying to stop already exists in all the states of the South-West.

“Already, there are Shari’ah panels sitting at the Central Mosque, Oja Oba, Ibadan, Oyo State (since 1^st May, 2002); Abesan Central Mosque, Ipaja, Lagos State (since 2003); Egba Muslims Central Mosque, Kobiti, Abeokuta, Ogun State (since 17^th  January 2018); Osun State Muslim Community Secretariat, Ring Road, Oshogbo (since 2005).

“Going by the venues mentioned here it is clear that the Shari’ah panels are not using government’s buildings or courts. They use mosques because the Shari’ah panels are private arbitration panels. But they already exist. So this Yoruba group is trying to shut the stable door after the horse has escaped.

“Only those who want to make caricatures of themselves will think of stopping the Shari’ah panels. They are not disturbing anybody. They have never and will never invite Christians to appear before them.

“Even the Muslims who appear before them do so voluntarily because the Shari’ah panels have no power of enforcement. So what is the big deal? Why so much fuss? Isn’t this much ado about nothing? What does this Yoruba group want except to heat up the polity? They are attention seekers.

“Even the letter sent by the group was addressed to the wrong person. The letter was addressed to Shaykh Abdul Rasheed Hadiyatullahi whereas the latter is not part of the Oyo town team. He is in Iwo, Osun State.

“Their claim that Shari’ah has no history in Yorubaland is absolute bunkum. To set the records straight, Shari’ah is of great antiquity in this part of the country. We will tell them about it because our people say ‘when a child rejects pounded yam in the evening, his parents will narrate the story of his mother’s marriage to him.’

“Where were these people who are now opposing ordinary Shari’ah panel in Yorubaland when Oba Abibu Olagunju of Ede employed Qadi Sindiku to operate the Shari’ah court at Agbeni area of Ede town? The court functioned at Agbeni up till 1913. It was moved to Agbongbon area of the town in 1914.

“Where were they when Oba Momodu Lamuye who died in 1906 established a Shari’ah court in Iwo? Were they born yet when Oba Aliyu Oyewole of Ikirun employed Mallam Bako as the qadi (judge) from 1910? This is history. This is our past, the past of Shari’ah. We will not allow anyone to cut us away from our past. Today was born from the wombs of yesterday.

“It was the British imperialists who curtailed the application of Shari’ah via the repugnancy and validity tests and replaced them with Christian common law in the whole South-West but they retained civil Shari’ah in the North.

“It is only that civil Shari’ah that Yoruba Muslims are activating in their Shari’ah panels without official involvement because none of the South-West governors since independence have had the liberal or democratic mien to allow the application of Sections 275(1), 276 and 277 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution which allow the practice of Shariah in any state with substantial Muslim population.

“It is gratifying that the Yoruba group has threatened to go to court. We assure them that Yoruba Muslims are not afraid of legal action over Shari’ah. The law is on our side. But we advise that they should take a good look at the sections of the constitution cited above before doing so and make sure they ask those who went to court before over Shari’ah. We are waiting.”

#ShariahPanel

#NotAfraidOfLegalAction

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

 

MURIC CONDEMNS DEATH THREAT, CYBER BULLYING AGAINST US-BASED NIGERIAN MUSLIM LADY

 

5^th January, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC CONDEMNS DEATH THREAT, CYBER BULLYING AGAINST US-BASED NIGERIAN MUSLIM LADY    

  

A US-based Nigerian Muslim lady, Shakirat Oluwatosin Raji, is currently being targeted for cyber bullying for speaking out in favour of civil Shari’ah in Yorubaland. Death threats were also issued against her.

Meanwhile an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has described the attacks on Shakirat as barbaric, Islamophobic and Bohemian. The group called on the security apparatus in the United States of America to give Shakirat adequate security.

MURIC expressed its opinion via a press statement issued on Sunday, 5^th January, 2025 by the Executive Director of the group, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

The full address:

“A US-based Nigerian Muslim lady, Shakirat Oluwatosin Raji, is currently being targeted for cyberbullying for speaking out in favour of civil Shari’ah in Yorubaland. The authors of the cowardly and despicable acts also threatened her with death.

“MURIC condemns this cyberstalking in the strongest terms. At a time when Yoruba Muslims of South-West Nigeria are politically marginalized, economically debilitated, socially ostracized and religiously persecuted, attacks on Shakirat for speaking up for the victims of these preposterous acts are barbaric, Islamophobic and Bohemian.

“These attacks stand in contradistinction to the principles of democracy, freedom and respect for the dignity of the homo sapien. These aggressive acts constitute an assault on civilized behaviour and an attempt to strangulate free speech.

“It will be recalled that Yoruba Muslims are currently engaged in a campaign for the establishment of civil Shari’ah (not the criminal aspect) to regulate the marriages of Muslims, their divorces, their inheritance and to determine their halal (Islamically lawful) purchases and sales.  

“It is widely known that Muslims living in the great democracies of the world, America, Britain and France enjoy these civil liberties that are nonetheless related to Shari’ah.

“For example, Crescent Foods is a leading halal food supplier in the United States. Salem's Market & Grill is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Island Grocery & Grill is a halal supermarket located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Sufiya's Grill is in East Meadow, New York while Halalco Supermarket is located in Falls Church, Virginia. (https://www.halaltimes.com/a-guide-to-halal-supermarkets-in-the-united-states/). These are Shari’ah compliant windows in the heart of the West.

“What the US allows in form of Shari’ah-compliant products in the above supermarkets can be compared to what Yoruba Muslims are demanding in South-West Nigeria, namely, special civil courts for Muslims where family matters can be resolved.

“Just as the halal supermarkets in the US are specifically for Muslims resident in that country while no American Christian can be forced to go there for his or her purchases, the Shari’ah courts being proposed by Yoruba Muslims is for Muslims only. It is a demand for the actualization of Allah-given fundamental human rights while its denial is an infringement on those rights and a crime against humanity.

“It was this civil liberty issue that the US-based Muslim lady, Shakirat Oluwatosin Raji, tried to explain on social media when she was most brutally taken up. Invectives were poured on her. Clangorous diatribes were rained on her from high up while rancorous vitriols came from below.

“For instance, Nyanmirin Banza Hunter on his X handle @EyeIgun75944 issued a direct death threat which read ‘Next Jumuah na your dead body dem go carry come’, meaning ‘Your dead body will be brought home next Friday prayer’. This threat was issued on 20^th December, 2024.

“Another hater who goes by the name Labia Majora @LabiaMinoria threatened to report her to her employers. He twitted, ‘I will fish out where you work and I shall attach a photo of all your tweets. I will explain to them what you stand for…’ His tweet was dispatched on 24^th December, 2024.

“For the avoidance of doubt, particularly because of those who love to give Muslims false and baseless labels, our organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), founded since 1994, is an Islamic human rights organization. MURIC is a pacific association, peace-loving, law-abiding and dialogue-prone. We detest violence and we condemn terrorism in all its ramifications. That is why we adopted our avowed motto: ‘Dialogue, Not Violence’.

“We call on the security apparatus in the United States of America to give Shakirat adequate security. Her comment on social media constitutes no security threat to the government and good people of the United States of America.

“She is a law-abiding Nigerian professional with a clean record. America is well known as a land of freedom. Therefore, Islamophobic proclivities and social media stalkers must not be allowed to becloud this great treasure of democracy.”

#CyberBullying

#ShakiratOluwatosinRaji

#USSecurityAgencies

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

ALLOW PEACE ON UNIABUJA CAMPUS – MURIC

 

2^nd January, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:

ALLOW PEACE ON UNIABUJA CAMPUS – MURIC

  

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has appealed to the University of Abuja community to allow peace to reign. The appeal was sequel to the objection of some of the professors to the appointment of Professor Aisha Maikudi as the substantive Vice Chancellor of the institution.

Speaking in Lagos on Thursday, 2^nd January, 2025, the Executive Director of the human rights group, Professor Ishaq Akintola, said only peaceful conduct and respect for law and order by members of the academic community can bring academic excellence and rapid infrastructural growth to the university.

His full message:

“Some professors have faulted the process that led to the appointment of Professor Aisha Maikudi yesterday, Tuesday, 31^st December, 2024 as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja. The exercise had earlier been characterized by a walkout on the joint selection board meeting by one of the professors and an aborted senate meeting on 24^th December, 2024.

“MURIC strongly condemns the manifestation of academic banditry in an environment where differences should be resolved through dialogue, exhibition of maturity and manifestation of mutual respect.

“We are miffed that the appointment of a candidate who emerged as the best among ten shortlisted candidates and was interviewed by the Joint Council and Senate Selection Board of the University in line with extant regulations governing the appointment of university vice chancellors could generate such hullabaloo among some professors.

“It is clear that the opposing camp has decided to turn a blind eye to the impeccable pedigree and intimidating curriculum vitae of the new Vice Chancellor to pursue personal agenda.

“Seamless transition is often difficult when Campus politics takes the driver’s seat. The one term policy for university vice chancellors was adopted by the Federal Government to stem this ugly tide. This is what the aggrieved professors should consider.

“Every single university professor is a potential vice chancellor. Aisha Maikudi, an eminently qualified professor, has been duly appointed as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja. Let nobody look down upon her for any raison d’etre under heaven: be it gender, ethnic or creed.

“University teachers are employed for the purpose of teaching and researching. That is tangential. University leadership and administrative positions are merely peripheral. Unfortunately what is most common among some professors is the dissipation of energy on the peripheral and often inconsequential for material benefits. A vice chancellor has emerged. Let us squarely face the tangential from now on. Allow peace on UniAbuja campus.”

#UniversityOfAbuja

#AllowPeaceToReign

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)