MURIC HAILS NAFISAH, BACKS CALLS FOR HER CELEBRATION

 

6^th August, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:
MURIC HAILS NAFISAH, BACKS CALLS FOR HER CELEBRATION

Nafisa Abdullah Aminu, a 17-year-old student from Yobe State, Nigeria, recently emerged as the world’s best in English language skills at the 2025 TeenEagle Global Finals held in London.

Meanwhile the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has backed calls for Nafisa to be celebrated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. MURIC argued that though it is good to encourage our sportsmen and women, it is better to prioritise education by giving bigger rewards to those who excel in that field.

The group also urged Northern governors to showcase Nafisa as a way of encouraging out of school children to embrace Western education.

The faith-based voluntary organization made the call in a press release issued by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Wednesday, 6^th August, 2025.

The release reads:

“Nafisa Abdullah Aminu, a 17-year-old student from Yobe State, Nigeria, recently emerged as the world’s best in English language skills at the 2025 TeenEagle Global Finals held in London, United Kingdom.

“To perform this great feat, she beat 20,000 students from 69 countries including those from Great Britain, owners of the language themselves (https://www.intelregion.com/news/17-year-old-nigerian-student-beats-69-countries-to-win-english-contest).

“This is definitely no mean feat. It is humongous, cerebral and arcane. It is record-breaking. Nigerians should be proud of their own. Besides, the Federal Government should recognize Nafisa as a heroine and a genius primus inter pareil.  

“We hereby call upon President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to honour Nafisa as he has been honouring those to whom honour is due. The Super Falcons were showered with national honours, 100,000 dollars to each of the 24 players and a 3-bedroom apartment per participant (https://punchng.com/tinubu-honours-triumphant-super-falcons-with-national-honours-100000-cash-each/).

“A week later, Nigeria’s D’Tigress were given similar treatment by President Tinubu (https://www.arise.tv/tinubu-awards-dtigress-players-100000-each-housing-gift-national-honour/).

“While we appreciate President Tinubu for recognizing these young sports heroines, we strongly believe it was high time he invited Nafisa for excelling in academics. No young Nigerian from the Yahoo Yahoo or cult clubs could have beaten those 20,000 students from 69 countries in an academic competition!

“It is good to encourage our sportsmen and women, but it is better to prioritise education by giving bigger rewards to those who excel in that field. Only thus can indolence be shunned by Nigerian youths. On the other hand, it is better not to reward at all than to idolise excellence in sports but demonise or totally ignore titanic greatness in academics.

“Nigerians were miffed when they saw the extremely poor performance of our students in the 2025 West African Examination Council (WAEC) results which were released two days ago. The results revealed a sharp decline in performance as only 38.32 per cent obtained credit and above in at least five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.  (https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/811858-updated-wassce-2025-waec-releases-results-records-sharp-decline-in-performance.html).

“A nation grappling with falling education standards, indolence among the youths, cultism, general moral bankruptcy, a nation where the youth have adopted ‘school is scam’ as their mantra while the citizenry embrace the ‘japa’ syndrome because they have the wrong impression that ‘Nigeria is finished’ should jump at the opportunity of showcasing a young brilliant performer like Nafisa.

“Nafisa deserves everything the Super Falcons and the D’Tigress received and even more. This is the time to know what our leaders really cherish. We have had governors in this country who splashed millions of naira and free houses on BB Naija winners whose moral compass is highly questionable. The question is where are our values? Where are our norms. Who did this to Nigeria?

“President Tinubu has a golden opportunity to reshape the destiny of our young ones as well as that of coming generations. A realistic act of recognition for Nafisa’s uncommon academic performance will realign the mentality of Nigerian youths to factory setting.

“MURIC also calls on the governor of Yobe, Mai Mala Buni, to hit while the iron is hot. We hereby nominate Nafisa as Yobe State Education Ambassador. She deserves the pomp and pageantry. Let her ride in open jeep around the capital to show Yobe children that it pays to be educated.

“According to statistics, about 80% of Nigeria's out-of-school children are located in the northern region. This percentage translates to roughly 20 million children not attending school in Nigeria (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/07/80-of-out-of-school-children-are-from-northern-nigeria-nef-chair/).

“Nothing stops state governors in the region from inviting Nafisa and making her speak in town hall meetings in Northern capitals. This will be an effective way of turning unwilling out of school children into school enthusiasts. Afterall, Nafisa’s victory has destroyed some myths and shattered stereotypes about certain ‘uneducated’ parts of Nigeria.”  

#PresidentTinubu

#NafisahAbdullah

#CelebrateNafisa

#LikeSuperFalconsLikeNafisa

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

INITIATE BILL ON FEDERAL SHARI’AH COURTS – MURIC TELLS NASS

 

4^th August, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:
INITIATE BILL ON FEDERAL SHARI’AH COURTS – MURIC TELLS NASS

After asking the Federal Government (FG) to intervene directly in the lopsidedness in the judiciary, an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has beamed its interrogation on the National Assembly (NASS). The group has asked the latter to initiate a bill on the creation of federal Shari’ah courts in all states, particularly in Southern Nigeria.   

MURIC’s latest request was made in a statement released to newsmen on Monday, 4^th August, 2025. The statement was signed by the group’s executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

The full statement reads:

“It will be recalled that our organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), last week, Friday, 1^st August, 2025 appealed to the Federal Government of Nigeria (FG) to fully integrate Shari’ah courts into the country’s judicial system by directly establishing Federal Shari’ah courts in all states the same way it established Christian common law courts all over the country (https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/811386-muric-asks-fg-to-establish-shariah-courts-in-36-states-abuja.html; https://leadership.ng/integrate-sharia-courts-into-nigerias-judicial-system-muric-tells-fg/).

“As a corollary to this appeal and considering the fact that even FG may need an enabling constitutional instrument to take this noble step, we are beaming our interrogation light on the National Assembly (NASS) to do the needful.

“We hereby call the attention of both houses of the Nigerian parliament, Senate and the House of Representatives, to the glaring lopsidedness cum lacuna in the Nigerian judicial system which has denied Muslims in Southern Nigeria their Allah-given fundamental human rights in terms of free access to courts of their own choice (i.e. Shari’ah courts).

“Inclusivity is sine qua non in every democratic setting but Muslims in Southern Nigeria are deprived of this in present day Nigerian judicial system. It is such situations that breed dissatisfaction among the populace thereby making peace, stability and social harmony evasive unless it is addressed.

“It is well known that the Nigerian legal system stands on a tripod of common law, customary law and Islamic law (Shari’ah). For justice to experience a balance, it is expected that each component of the tripartite systems should be equally treated and applied in all parts of the country.

“But the reverse is the case as only two of them (common law and customary law) enjoy national spread while Shari’ah is restricted to the North. In particular, common law which is essentially and undeniably Christian law enjoys special grace with the establishment of magistrate courts and high courts by state governments as well as federal high courts, federal courts of appeal and the Supreme Court by the Federal Government.

“Customary courts come next as they are established all over the country by all state governments. They also enjoy the luxury of customary courts of appeal. These courts apply traditional rules in their areas of jurisdiction thereby representing traditional religion.

“Regrettably, however, Shari’ah suffers desertification of official attention in all the Southern states of Nigeria because it is only allowed in the Northern states. This should not be so. It is quite understandable if state governments in the South discriminate against Shari’ah since the governors are all Christians.

“But what about FG that should play the role of father of all? That was why we called on FG last week to act in loco parentis by establishing Federal Shari’ah Courts the same way it established Christian common law courts throughout Nigeria, including the predominantly Muslim core North.

“A fortiori, we saw the rationale for us to further take our case to the Nigerian parliament, Senate and the House of Representatives since the executive may still need the intervention of the legislature in a true setting of separation of powers.

“Therefore, we strongly appeal to the NASS to initiate a bill to establish Federal Shariah Courts in all states of the federation. Our appeal is based on the law principle of ubi jus ibi remedium (where there is a right, there is a remedy).

“If, indeed, Shariah is the fundamental human right of Nigerian Muslims (and it is) as enshrined in Sections 275, 276 and 277 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, ubi jus ibi remedium necessitates that a remedy be found by the NASS for the enforcement of this right.

“The constitution says Muslims have the right to operate Shari’ah. There is no argument about that anymore. But since the state governments are reluctant, the National Assembly must take responsibility for enacting a bill that will give FG an enabling instrument to establish Shari’ah courts in the states the same way it has established Christian common law courts all over the federation.

“Introducing this bill or amending the constitution to reflect it will give the executive arm of government the constitutional instrument for establishing Federal Shariah Courts after signing it into law. The ball is therefore in the court of the NASS for now.

“In addition, we appeal to the NASS to see this interrogation as an addendum to the memorandum submitted to the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendment in Lagos on Friday, 4^th July, 2025 which was replicated two weeks later when a copy was presented to the Committee of the House of Representatives on Constitutional Amendment also in Lagos on Saturday, 19^th July, 2025.”

#Shari’ahCourts

#NASS

#GiveUsShariahFederalCourtsBill

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

MURIC TO FG: TREAT SHARIAH COURTS AS FEDERAL COURTS

 

1^st August, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:
MURIC TO FG: TREAT SHARIAH COURTS AS FEDERAL COURTS

A human rights group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has appealed to the Federal Government of Nigeria (FG) to fully integrate Shari’ah courts into the country’s judicial system.

The Muslim rights advocacy group contended that the country’s judicial system as currently being operated is lopsided because Shari’ah is denied in certain parts of the country whereas common law courts are available all over the country. The group therefore called on FG to treat Shari’ah courts like federal courts by establishing Shariah courts directly in all states of the federation the same way federal high courts were established in them.

Making this appeal on Friday, 1^st August, 2025 was the Executive Director of the Islamic human rights advocacy group, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

He said:

“The issue of Shari’ah continues to stir concern among Muslim communities. One of the questions recently raised is the fact that the Federal Government still went ahead to establish federal high courts in all states despite their existence at state level. It is also well known that the state and federal high courts exist in all states whereas Shari’ah only exists in the North. There is no single Shari’ah court anywhere in the South.

This implies that although Nigerian Muslims accommodate and tolerate common law courts which originated from Christianity, Nigerian Christians refuse to accommodate or tolerate Shari’ah courts. This amounts to denial of access to justice for Muslims while Christians enjoy full access to their own justice system.

“The onus is therefore on FG to ensure that Muslims are not shortchanged by ensuring that the judicial system is neither selective nor exclusive. The current system whereby all parts of the country accept one judicial system (common law courts) while another system (Shari’ah) is only allowed to operate in only one part of the country is discriminatory, unfair, unjust and therefore unacceptable.

“It shows clearly that full integration of Muslims and their way of life is still lacking in our society whereas Christian way of life has been allowed to dominate the Nigerian ecosystem.

“The question that may arise from this conversation is ‘What happens if Nigerian Muslims also insist on parity? What happens if they start to set conditions for them to accept any legal system other than their own? What happens if they make acceptance of Shari’ah courts in the South a condition for accepting Christian common law courts in the North and in predominantly Muslim communities?

“MURIC advises FG not to wait until Nigerian Muslims start asking those legitimate questions before integrating Shari’ah courts into the Nigerian judicial system. Of course they are legitimate questions.

“They are legitimate questions because there is no democracy without participation, without inclusiveness. The Nigerian constitution recognizes the tripartite nature of our judicial system: Christian common law, Shari’ah and customary law. Both Christian common law and customary law are already prominently featured all over the country but Shari’ah is restricted to the North thereby robbing Southern Muslims chances of participating in the nation’s judicial exercise.

“It amounts to judicial apartheid against millions of Muslims in the South as well as imposition of Christian law on Northern Muslims. It may be argued that Northern Muslims have an alternative in the existing Shari’ah courts in their region but so could Southern Christians have an alternative in the existing Christian common law courts in their region but they are so intolerant that they refuse to allow Shari’ah courts in their region.

“But what happens if Northern Muslims now elect to be as difficult as Southern Christians? We all know that life goes on in the world because we all recognize the essence of the social rule which says ‘rub my back I rub your back’. What if Northern Muslims play the card ‘if you refuse to rub my back I will stop rubbing your back too’?

“Christian law courts in the North will become empty the day the region refuses to pay judges in the court and transfer court staff, registrar and clerks, to the Shari’ah courts.

“Afterall the Christian Common law courts in the North survive on taxes paid by Northern Muslims. Ironically, too, the same courts in the South are funded with tax paid by both Muslims and Christians in the South. The money is used to run the Christian courts only even though Muslims also pay whereas their own Shari’ah courts are not beneficiaries. Is that justice?

“Meanwhile state governors in the South have always ignored that section of the Constitution which stipulates the establishment of Shariah courts in all states ‘that desire it’ to mean where ‘the governor desires it’. They simply refuse to implement it despite constant outcries for it coming from Muslims in their states. The way out is for FG to take up that responsibility in the name of fairness, justice and equity by establishing Shari’ah Federal Courts.

“In as much as it is true that Nigeria runs a tripartite judicial system, as far as it is a reality that Southern Muslims also pay tax, if it is a fact that Section 275, 276 and 277 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria stipulates the establishment of Shari’ah courts in all states of the federation, the onus is on FG to treat Shari’ah courts as federal courts by establishing Shariah Federal Courts in all states.

“FG should treat Shari’ah courts like federal courts by establishing Shariah courts directly in all states of the federation the same way federal high courts were established in them.

“We are thinking outside the box. If FG can have its own high courts in all states running parri passu with state high courts, nothing stops the same FG, as father of all, from establishing Shari’ah Federal Courts in each state, at least to pacify aggrieved Muslims who have been denied access to justice for decades. Only thus can Shari’ah be fully integrated into the country’s judicial system, only thus can justice be strongly entrenched, and justice is the soul of peace.”

#Shari’ahCourts

#GiveUsShariahFederalCourtsNow

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

MURIC HAILS COURT RULING ON SKIRTS FOR FEMALE CORPERS

 

31^st July, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC HAILS COURT RULING ON SKIRTS FOR FEMALE CORPERS

The Muslim Rights Concerned (MURIC) has welcomed the landmark judgment by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which declared the National Youth Service Corps' (NYSC) refusal to permit female corps members to wear skirts for religious reasons as unconstitutional. The suits, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/989/2020 and FHC/ABJ/CS/988/2020, were filed by Ogunjobi Blessing and Ayuba Vivian against the NYSC (https://punchng.com/court-orders-nysc-to-allow-skirts-for-female-corps-members/).

 

MURIC views this judgment as a significant victory for religious freedom and accommodation, particularly for female Muslim and Christianity corpers who wish to wear the hijab or other religious attire as demanded by their faith.

 

In light of this judgment, MURIC Oyo State Chapter calls on Christians to reconsider their opposition to Muslim women wearing the hijab in public spaces. Given the court's recognition of the importance of accommodating different religious practices, MURIC believes that Christians should no longer oppose Muslims on the issue of hijab. It should be noted that the two female corpers who took the NYSC to court are Christians (Blessing and Vivian). They found the NYSC trousers unacceptable to their faith and took NYSC to court. 

 

MURIC's stance is that promoting Islamic values and practices is essential in preserving the religious identity of Muslims in a pluralistic society. The organization advocates for the rights of Muslim women to wear the hijab or other religious attires, free from discrimination and marginalization.

 

By supporting this judgment, MURIC aims to promote greater religious freedom, diversity, and inclusion in society and to ensure that Muslims are treated with dignity and respect in accordance with the principles of justice and equality.

 

Barrister W. O. Lawal, 

Chairman, 

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC),

Oyo State Chapter.

 

Amb. Malam Ibrahim Agunbiade,

Secretary,

Muslim Rights Concern 

(MURIC), 

Oyo State Chapter

 

PLATEAU’S DEMAND FOR WITHDRAWAL OF SOLDIERS DIABOLICAL – MURIC

 

29^th July, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:
PLATEAU’S DEMAND FOR WITHDRAWAL OF SOLDIERS DIABOLICAL – MURIC

Plateau State government last week demanded the withdrawal of soldiers from hotspots in the state and that they should be replaced with mobile policemen. However, a human rights advocacy group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has countered the demand. MURIC said Plateau State government has a sinister motive for demanding the soldiers’ withdrawal.

The group made this known in a statement issued on Tuesday, 29^th July, 2025. The statement was signed by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

It reads:

“The Special Envoy on peace and security to Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State last week demanded the withdrawal of soldiers from crisis areas and their replacement with mobile policemen (https://dailytrust.com/muslim-community-kicks-over-plateaus-insistence-on-withdrawal-of-soldiers/).

“We of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) smell a rat in this demand. There is more to it than meets the eye. Why should a state enveloped in viral killings demand the removal of soldiers from crisis areas? It does not add up. Plateau has a sinister motive.

“The trajectory of skirmishes in Plateau State in particular and the North Central in general makes an interesting study. It is characterized by official coverup of massacres, cannibalism, arson and looting. Plateau has mastered the art of deception, manipulation and intrigues.

“Women in Plateau communities are hands in gloves with killer youths and they hide murderous hearts behind enticing feminine smiles. They readily go out naked in protest against the presence of soldiers even when they are fully aware that their people have killed innocent Nigerians.

“We are fully convinced that Plateau’s demand for the withdrawal of soldiers from hotspots is diabolical. Besides, what informed their preference for mobile policemen to replace soldiers is their successful long term plan for predominance in the recruitment of mobile police in the country.

“They know that indigenes of Plateau, Benue and other parts of North Central dominate the population of mobile policemen. This is what they want to leverage on. They should be denied that luxury.

“The zone is not sincere about the search for peace. Every committee set up by the authorities to find solutions to the outbreaks of silence has been lopsided. We need balanced committees for enduring peace. We need the military in Plateau for fair and transparent security operations. The government of Plateau State cannot be trusted for general protection of all citizens in the state.”

#DontWithdrawSoldiers

#PlateauNeedsSoldiers

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

 

MURIC OYO CHAPTER CONDEMNS MASQUERADE ATTACK ON MUSLIMS

 

 

28^th July, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC OYO CHAPTER CONDEMNS MASQUERADE ATTACK ON MUSLIMS  

It has come to the attention of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Oyo State Chapter, that a masquerader named Lobanika, during his public outing on Friday, 25^th July, 2025, assaulted an Imam walking on the street by using a stick to snatch the cap on the Imam's head. Not only that, the masquerade also stormed Oṣaro market on the same day and attacked another Muslim with a cutlass.

 

MURIC strongly condemns this barbaric act, as our motto stands firmly on the principle of “Dialogue, Not Violence.” This act is absurd, criminal, demeaning, nonsensical and completely unacceptable. 

 

In a multicultural and religiously diverse state like ours, peaceful coexistence must be preserved. Therefore, we urgently call on all stakeholders of the Egungun Festival to take immediate and firm action by cautioning and controlling all those involved in masquerade outings.

 

However, in view of the alleged reprisal attacks by Muslims in Ogbomosho, we call for caution. Two wrongs do not make a right. We appeal to Muslims to exercise patience. 

 

MURIC  urges the security operatives in the area to warn all masquerades against assaulting Muslims or attacking mosques. These are the kind of actions that can escalate the crisis. 

 

Meanwhile we particularly call the attention of the authorities and the public to the Ololu Masquerade Festival, which is scheduled to begin on Monday, 28th July 2025 in Ibadan. Based on multiple reports from concerned bodies, there is growing anxiety that this upcoming festivity might lead to further unrest.

 

We hereby urge the Oyo State Government and relevant security agencies to act promptly and decisively to prevent any form of assault or intimidation by masqueraders. The safety and rights of all citizens regardless of their religion must be guaranteed.

 

To our fellow Muslims across the state, we appeal for calm and restraint, as we await the necessary intervention and response from the authorities.

 

Amb. Malam Ibrahim Agunbiade,

Secretary,

Muslim Rights Concern 

(MURIC), 

Oyo State Chapter