The Muslim Lawyers’ Association of Nigeria (MULAN), Oyo State Chapter, has directed its members to boycott the 2025 Oyo State Judiciary Legal Year Service, citing disregard for Muslim stakeholders in the planning and execution of the annual judicial event.
In a statement issued and e-signed by the association’s Chairman, Secretary, and Public Relations Officer, MULAN said the decision was reached during its general meeting held on September 7, 2025, and was later ratified by its Elders and Patrons, including Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) within the association.
According to the statement, the boycott became necessary following the Judiciary’s decision to unilaterally move the programme from its traditional venue, the Ibadan Central Mosque, Oja’aba to a new location without consulting Muslim lawyers or considering their input.
“The boycott is informed by the decision of the Judiciary to unilaterally move the programme from the Ibadan Central Mosque, Oja’aba, to a new venue without regard for the opinion of Muslim Lawyers as stakeholders in the programme,” the association said.
MULAN also expressed displeasure over the reported removal of goodwill message sessions traditionally reserved for bodies such as the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), MULAN, and the Muslim community during the service. The association described the move as an attempt to “deprive Muslim lawyers of the opportunity to air their views on key issues within the justice system and the polity.”
Additionally, the group noted that with less than a week to the scheduled Legal Year Service, it had yet to receive any formal invitation from the Judiciary another development it described as “disrespectful and exclusionary.”
Efforts by senior members of the Bar, including SANs and MULAN leaders, to resolve the matter reportedly failed.
“Our SANs and the Bar leadership have met with the Judiciary to attempt to convince the Judiciary to reverse their stance, but the meeting was deadlocked,” the statement added.
Following the stalemate, MULAN said it had no choice but to instruct all Muslim lawyers across the state to stay away from the event, emphasizing that compliance with the directive is a matter of unity and principle.
“It is important to comply with this decision to restore the honour of our Association and to obey the decision of our leaders as enjoined by Allah in the Holy Qur’an,” the statement concluded.
