"We Want Sharia Allover Nigeria": Muslim Rights Group Pushes for Federal Shari’ah Courts, Advocates Constitutional Change

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has urged Nigeria's National Assembly to pass a law establishing Federal Shari’ah Courts across the country. In a strongly worded statement released on Monday, MURIC highlighted what it described as the “glaring lopsidedness” in Nigeria’s judicial system, particularly concerning the application of Shari’ah law in the southern regions.

According to the Islamic rights organization, Nigeria’s legal system, which is built on a foundation of three distinct branches — common law, customary law, and Islamic law (Shari’ah) — has a significant imbalance. While common and customary laws have nationwide reach, Shari’ah is only applied in northern Nigeria, leaving Muslim citizens in the southern parts of the country without equal legal representation or access to a judicial framework rooted in their faith.

MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, made a compelling case for the national application of Shari’ah law, noting that for justice to be truly fair and balanced, all three components of the Nigerian legal system must be equally applied across every region. "For justice to experience a balance, each component of the tripartite system should be equally treated and applied in all parts of the country," Akintola said in the statement. He added that Muslims in southern Nigeria are currently being denied judicial inclusivity, which has created a sense of marginalization within the legal system.

MURIC emphasized that Muslims in the South are left without adequate legal channels that cater to their religious and cultural values. The group contends that the absence of Shari’ah courts in the southern states not only disregards the constitutional right of Muslims but also leads to unfair legal practices, as many Muslim citizens in these regions are left with no option but to seek common law or customary law solutions, which may not align with their beliefs and practices.

While acknowledging the reluctance of some southern state governments, particularly due to religious and political concerns, MURIC insisted that the Federal Government must step in. Many of the governors in the southern states are Christian, and as such, they may be unwilling to establish Shari’ah courts within their jurisdictions. However, MURIC argues that the federal government has the responsibility to ensure equitable legal access for all Nigerians, regardless of their religion. The organization suggested that the Federal Government should create Federal Shari’ah Courts, similar to how Christian common law courts are recognized and respected nationwide.

In his statement, Akintola pointed out that the constitutional framework already allows for such a development. Citing sections 275, 276, and 277 of the 1999 Constitution, MURIC affirmed that Muslims have a constitutional right to Shari’ah legal systems. The group is now calling for an enabling law to be passed that would facilitate the establishment of Federal Shari’ah Courts across Nigeria.

"The ball is in the court of the National Assembly," MURIC concluded, urging lawmakers to act swiftly to resolve what they perceive as a long-standing injustice.

The push for the nationwide establishment of Shari’ah courts follows a memorandum MURIC had previously submitted to the Senate and House of Representatives committees on constitutional amendments in Lagos earlier in July 2025. This document reiterated the group’s demand for a fair legal system that equally acknowledges the rights of Muslims across the country, regardless of their geographical location.

At the heart of the MURIC proposal is the need for the Nigerian legal system to reflect the diversity of the country’s population. With a significant Muslim population living in the southern regions, MURIC insists that the legal system should not exclude them from having courts that reflect their religious convictions. The argument is that the current legal framework, which operates on a system of common and customary law, fails to fully acknowledge and accommodate the needs of Nigerian Muslims, especially in areas where Islamic legal principles are an integral part of their everyday life.

The debate surrounding Shari’ah law in Nigeria has been a long-standing and contentious issue. Critics argue that the introduction of Shari’ah courts on a national scale could deepen religious divisions, while proponents believe that it would provide a fairer legal system for Muslim citizens. In the northern parts of Nigeria, Shari’ah law has been in place for years and is already embedded in the legal framework. However, for Muslims in the south, the absence of such courts has left them in a precarious position, unable to resolve their legal issues in a manner consistent with their faith.

MURIC’s call for nationwide Shari’ah courts comes at a time when there is growing discourse about religious inclusivity and the recognition of diverse legal systems in Nigeria. The group’s stance underscores the belief that justice in Nigeria can only be achieved when the country’s legal system respects and upholds the principles of all its citizens, including the religious and cultural practices of Muslims. The organization’s demand for Federal Shari’ah Courts is not just about the right to religious practice but also the right to an equal and inclusive legal system that treats all Nigerian citizens fairly.

As the conversation continues, the National Assembly faces increasing pressure to address these calls for reform. Whether or not they will act on the request from MURIC remains to be seen, but the organization’s statement is clear: the time to address the imbalance is now.