The Grand Kadi of Kwara State, Hon. Justice Salihu Oloruntoyin Muhammad has called for the amendment of the relevant section of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in order to expand the jurisdiction of the Sharia Court of Appeal

Justice Muhammad made the call while delivering his address at the 2016/2017 Legal Year ceremony of the Sharia Court of Appeal, Ilorin, yesterday.

He emphasised that Islamic Law should govern all civil disputes in which all the parties are Muslims.

Justice Muhammad said that if the amendment and expansion was granted, as provided for the Customary Court of Appeal it would enable the Sharia Court of Appeal cover many more areas of adjudication and it would have positive effect in satisfying the yearnings of all Muslims who want all their civil matters adjudicated upon in compliance with the Islamic Law.

Justice Muhammad also wants all judges of the Upper Area Courts and Area Courts to have full knowledge of Arabic language and Islamic Studies.

"We request that a degree in Arabic and Islamic Studies should be regarded as equivalent to LL.B Sharia as qualification for Area Court Judges, since most cases handled by these courts in this state are governable by Islamic Law", Justice Muhammad added.

Speaking on the activities of the court in the last Legal Year, Justice Muhammad said that 62 Appeals and Motions were filed out of which 38 were decided upon, while many disputes were successfully settled using the machinery of Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) which is in line with Islamic Law.

In the last Legal Year, the Grand Kadi said the court promptly attended to the welfare of the staff and also participated in some of the community services. He, however, thanked the executive governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed for his support and releasing fund toward the development of the court.

In his remark, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Kwara State, Barrister Kamaldeen Ajibade congratulated the court for the success recorded in the last Legal Year, even as he challenged them to redouble efforts in order to surpass the past record.

The commissioner also reiterated the commitment of the state government to the welfare of the judiciary staff and urged them to discharge the duty in accordance with the oath of office and the law of the court.