Jurisdiction of Courts on Islamic Banking and Finance Cases

Islamic Banking operations and Financing services in the contemporary age is poised to face some challenges. One of such challenges is the usual conflict of interests in the normal daily transactions. When this happens, there are various models of resolving disputes like any ordinary course of life. One of the options is through the court adjuducation. Nigeria is pominently a Muslim populated country, though it is referred to as a secular state by virtue of her constitutional design. The current 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria recognizes the religion of Islam and gives room for some selected issues to be resolved through Islamic courts, if in dispute. However, it becomes worrisome as to the actual court in Nigeria that ought to assume competent jurisdiction over cases that emanate from Islamic banking and finance transactions. This is because Islamic Courts enjoin religious relationship with Islamic banking and finance while the conventional courts are originally clothed with jurisdiction on banking and finance operation. It is however discovered that a wide gap is required to be filled for Islamic banking and finance operation to be truly effective in Nigeria