Establish Shari’ah Courts Nationwide, Muslim Rights Group Urges National Assembly

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on the National Assembly to initiate a bill to address the perceived imbalance in Nigeria’s judicial system.

The group is advocating for the establishment of federal Shari’ah courts across the country, particularly in Southern Nigeria, to provide Muslims with equal access to justice.

MURIC argues that the Nigerian Constitution recognizes Islamic law as a fundamental right of Muslims, citing sections 275, 276, and 277 of the 1999 Constitution. The group believes that the National Assembly has a responsibility to enact a bill that will give the federal government the power to establish Shari’ah courts, just as it has established common law courts throughout the country.

MURIC’s Executive Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, has urged the Senate and House of Representatives to consider the bill, emphasizing that it will promote judicial inclusivity and balance in the country’s legal system.

The group had previously submitted a memorandum to the Senate and House of Representatives committees on constitutional amendment, highlighting the need for this reform.