Establish Federal Sharia Courts In Southern Nigeria, MURIC Urges NASS

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on the National Assembly to enact legislation establishing Federal Shari’ah Courts across the country, particularly in southern Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Monday, MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, described the current judicial structure as “glaringly lopsided” arguing that Muslims in the South are being denied access to a legal system aligned with their faith.

According to Akintola, Nigeria’s legal system is built on three pillars, common law, customary law, and Islamic (Shari’ah) law, but only common and customary laws have national coverage. He said Shari’ah law is restricted to a few northern states.

“It is well known that the Nigerian legal system stands on a tripod of common law, customary law, and Islamic law. For justice to be truly balanced, all three components should be given equal recognition and application across all regions,” the statement read.

MURIC called on both chambers of the National Assembly to correct the imbalance by providing constitutional support for the creation of Federal Shari’ah Courts in every part of the country.

The group noted that many state governments in the South may not support such courts due to religious or political reasons, but stressed that the Federal Government has a duty to act.

“It is understandable that southern state governments are opposed to Shari’ah law, since the governors are all Christians. But the Federal Government should act in loco parentis by establishing Federal Shari’ah Courts the same way it established Christian common law courts throughout Nigeria,” Akintola said.

Quoting sections 275 to 277 of the 1999 Constitution, MURIC maintained that Muslims are constitutionally entitled to Shari’ah legal provisions and urged lawmakers to create the enabling framework for its implementation nationwide.

The group also referenced a memorandum it submitted during the July 2025 constitutional review hearings held by the Senate and House of Representatives committees in Lagos, reiterating its longstanding call for nationwide Shari’ah court access.

“The ball is now in the court of the National Assembly,” the statement concluded.

Establish Federal Sharia Courts In Southern Nigeria, MURIC Urges NASS is first published on The Whistler Newspaper