Nigerian lawmakers reject Sharia law expansion bill

-Claims to compromise religious freedom of other faiths in Nigeria

October 25, 2024

By Samuel Ogunsona

The House of Representatives has rejected a bill seeking to expand the scope of Sharia law in Nigeria.

The proposed legislation aimed to amend sections 24, 262, and 277 of the Constitution by removing the word “personal” from the application of Sharia law.

This change would have allowed Sharia law to govern not just personal matters like marriage and inheritance but also commercial transactions.

The bill’s sponsor, Aliyu Missau, argued that the current constitution doesn’t accommodate Islamic financial institutions like Jaiz and Taj banks.

However, many lawmakers saw this as an attempt to broaden Sharia law’s scope, potentially undermining the freedom of all religions in Nigeria.

Bamidele Salam, a lawmaker from Osun State, opposed the bill, citing concerns that it could derail the country’s religious freedom.

“We must be careful with any changes to the Constitution that could further widen divisions in Nigeria. In any case, the matters my colleague seeks to address are already covered by existing laws,” he said.

Another lawmaker, Awaji-Inombek Abiante, also opposed the bill, stating that it’s a dangerous amendment that could lead to religious war in a multi-religious country like Nigeria.

However, many northern lawmakers supported this bill saying the approval is harmless.

Saidu Abdullah, Abdullah Ado, Ahmad Satomi and others spoke in support of the bill.

The rejection of this bill ensures that Sharia law remains limited to personal issues, maintaining the existing balance between religious and secular laws in Nigeria.