The Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN) has firmly rejected appeals from US lawmakers to abolish Sharia law in Nigeria, describing such proposals as misinformed and an attempt to undermine national sovereignty.
Sharia law operates alongside statutory and customary law in Nigeria, mainly across 12 northern states, where it has been formally applied as part of civil and criminal law since 1999. The council emphasized that Sharia is a comprehensive framework guiding religious, moral, and legal aspects of Muslim life in the country.
In a statement issued Wednesday, SCSN Secretary General Nafiu Ahmad reaffirmed that Sharia cannot be relinquished due to “external pressure, misinformation, or political intimidation.” The council highlighted that Nigeria’s constitution protects freedom of religion, allowing Muslims to manage personal and family matters according to their faith.
The council also dismissed claims of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, calling the assertion inaccurate and misleading. It noted that security challenges, including terrorism, banditry, and organized crime, affect both Muslims and Christians. SCSN stressed that Nigeria’s plural legal system and multi-religious society must be respected, and external interference in Sharia practice is unwarranted and counterproductive.
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