The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on the National Assembly (NASS) to consider initiating a bill that will lead to the establishment of Federal Shari’ah Courts across Nigeria, particularly in Southern Nigeria, where such institutions currently do not exist.
In a statement issued on Monday and first reported by Punch, MURIC’s Executive Director, Prof Ishaq Akintola, stated that the group had formally petitioned both the Senate and House of Representatives, urging them to act on what it described as the “glaring lop-sidedness” in Nigeria’s judicial system.
MURIC argued that the Nigerian legal system is built on three pillars: common law, customary law, and Islamic law (Shari’ah). However, only common and customary laws enjoy national spread, while Shari’ah law remains confined to Northern Nigeria, leaving Muslims in the South without judicial inclusivity.
“We hereby call the attention of both houses of the Nigerian parliament… to the glaring lop-sidedness cum lacuna in the Nigerian judicial system,” the statement read, emphasizing that Southern Nigerian Muslims lack access to courts of their own religious and legal tradition.
Akintola further claimed that common law, which he described as “essentially and undeniably Christian law,” has been institutionalized nationwide through federal high courts, courts of appeal, and the Supreme Court, while Shari’ah courts remain absent in many states, particularly in the South.
He added that although customary courts are widely accepted across the country, Southern governors, who he noted are mostly Christians, have been reluctant to support the establishment of Islamic courts. As such, he urged the Federal Government to act in loco parentis by initiating the creation of Federal Shari’ah Courts, as it has done for Christian common law courts.
Citing Sections 275, 276, and 277 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Akintola insisted that Shari’ah is a constitutional right of Nigerian Muslims. He therefore called on the National Assembly to create or amend relevant laws to allow the Federal Government establish Shari’ah courts in states unwilling to do so on their own.
“The constitution says Muslims have the right to operate Shari’ah. There is no argument about that anymore,” Akintola added.
MURIC stated that passing such a bill would empower the executive arm of government with the necessary constitutional instrument to establish Federal Shari’ah Courts, helping to enforce religious equality and judicial inclusivity for all Nigerians.
The group further reminded lawmakers of its earlier memorandum submitted to the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendment in Lagos on July 4, 2025, and again to the House of Representatives Committee on July 19, 2025.
