Friday, July 18, 2025

MURIC BACKS EFCC ON UNEXPLAINED WEALTH BILL

 


19th July, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:
MURIC BACKS EFCC ON UNEXPLAINED WEALTH BILL

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on the National Assembly (NASS) to pass the unexplained wealth bill without further delay. This was sequel to the call made by the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the NASS on the same subject. 

The Islamic human rights organization argued that the unexplained wealth bill is capable of exposing corruption in public and private places, thereby eradicating profligacy or reducing it to its barest minimum if the bill becomes law. 

This was contained in a statement issued on Saturday, 19th July, 2025 by the group's Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola. 

He said further:

"The chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, recently called on the National Assembly (NASS) to pass the unexplained wealth bill into law (https://crimechannels.com/pass-unexplained-wealth-bill-efcc-chairman-tells-national-assembly/)

"This is not only a call in the right direction but also a call to action. So many kleptomaniacs, yahoo yahoo boys, kidnappers, armed robbers, etc escape detection due to the absence of this particular law. 

"The bill will make probity and accountability mandatory with little effort on the part of the law enforcement agencies. The existing corruption laws are so weak that it is unable to compel accountability. 

"We therefore call on the NASS to rescue the nation from the abyss of moral debauchery by hearkening to the call of the EFCC chairman to pass the unexplained wealth bill into law."

#NationalAssembly

#EFCC

#PassUnexplainedWealthBill

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

WHY BUHARI IS THE FATHER OF MODERN NIGERIA – MURIC

 


16th July, 2025

                                                   PRESS RELEASE:

WHY BUHARI IS THE FATHER OF MODERN NIGERIA

A faith-based human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has reiterated its description of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari as the Father of Modern Nigeria. The group also gave reasons for giving him the appellation.

The reasons were contained in a statement issued on Wednesday, 16th July, 2025 by the group’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

The statement reads:

“Hundreds of tributes have been pouring in for the late former President Muhammadu Buhari whose death was announced on Sunday, 13th July, 2025. He died in a London clinic at the age of 82. But none of those tributes has captured vintage Buhari as we know him.

“We have called Buhari ‘Father of Modern Nigeria’ at least on two occasions. We first gave the late president the name ‘Father of Modern Nigeria’ in our statement of 14th March, 2022.

“Showcasing the Lagos-Ibadan train which was newly launched at the time, we took about twenty of our members on a picnic from Lagos to Ibadan. We rode on the train for the first time as first hand witnesses.

“Impressed by what we saw and experienced, we declared that Buhari was the Father of Modern Nigeria (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/03/how-buhari-has-re-engineered-modern-nigeria-muric/).

“We reiterated this stand one year later in May 2023 when Buhari handed over government (https://leadership.ng/muric-hails-buharis-achievements-calls-him-father-of-modern-nigeria/; https://gazettengr.com/buhari-father-of-modern-nigeria-survived-death-conspiracy-muric/?tztc=1). We are consistent even though his achievements are too numerous to mention in a single press statement.

“The most outstanding cassu belli for calling Buhari ‘Father of Modern Nigeria’ are his compelling infrastructural achievements, particularly his breakthrough in rail transportation. Lagos-Ibadan expressway used to witness long traffic gridlock extending over twenty or more kilometers.

“Vehicles moved at snail speed on Lagos-Ibadan expressway and a journey which should last just one hour, ceteris paribus, used to take eight to ten hours. It was a route of waste, frustration, horror and sorrow. But all these disappeared the moment Buhari’s train made its debut. That is one major reason for calling Buhari the ‘Father of Modern Nigeria’.

“Buhari’s train did not stop at Lagos-Ibadan, Abuja-Kaduna and Itakpe-Warri standard gauge rail lines will remain Buhari’s bold signatures for a long time. The latter had been abandoned since 1987.

“It is important to note that if former President Muhammadu Buhari had been corrupt, the $2.1 billion spent on the Lagos-Ibadan railroad would have gone down the drain. The painful frustrating journeys to those destinations would have continued till date. Ditto for other railroads constructed by him.

“But there are other reasons. Buhari’s other achievements stood him out. He turned the security architecture round 360 degrees. Like we said in one of our earlier statements, one of Mr Buhari’s successes in the area of security is the absence of suicide bombers and the closure of many Internally Displaced People (IDP) camps. 

“Seventeen out of Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas were under the full control of Boko Haram when Buhari took over in 2015. It was so bad that the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) said Boko Haram was controlling the size of Belgium. But Buhari pushed them back and recovered all territories.

“Nigerian troops who used to flee to Niger or Chad during fierce clashes with insurgents due to lack of better weapons became emboldened under the Daura-born president. Nigerian media reported this ugly spectacle in November 2014 during the reign of ex-President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/170914-nigerian-soldiers-flee-as-boko-haram-captures-more-territory-in-adamawa.html?tztc=1).

“This was made possible because instead of diverting funds meant for weapons and military hardware, Buhari made Nigeria’s money count. He strengthened the military by purchasing the most sophisticated weaponry from everywhere in the world, including American Tucano fighting jets and attack helicopters.

“Who else can qualify for the appellation ‘Father of Modern Nigeria’ but a three star general who was former military governor, former head of state, former Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) and president of Nigeria for eight good years but in spite of these high level opportunities to enrich himself, he died three days ago leaving behind just two houses which he had before becoming president: one in Kaduna, and the other in Daura, his hometown. He has not built an additional house even after eight years in office.

“Though he has not hurt Nigerians in any deliberate manner, he asked for forgiveness from us. Courtesy demands that we must pray for him in death. In particular, as a faith-based organization, MURIC will be failing in its duty if we do not pray for this great man who has done so much for his country but who has often been misunderstood.

“May Almighty Allah forgive him. May He shower His Divine Mercy on him. May He also grant him Al-Jannah Firdaus. Aamiin.

“A colossus and an indisputable national icon, Buhari pursued politics of discipline, honesty and selflessness. For him, it was Nigeria first. He was a leader par excellence, a patriot nulli secundus. He stands tall among other Nigerian leaders, living or dead.

“Greatest Nigerian People, Ladies and Gentlemen of conscience and truth, we present to you posthumously, Mr. Integrity, Mr. Pedigree, Mr. Nigeria First, the greatest patriot Nigeria ever had, Ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, the Father of Modern Nigeria.”

#Buhari

#FatherOfModernNigeria

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

Sunday, July 13, 2025

BUHARI'S DEATH: A GARGANTUAN LOSS – MURIC

 




13th July, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:
BUHARI'S DEATH: A GARGANTUAN LOSS – MURIC

The death has been announced of former President Muhammadu Buhari. He died in a London clinic on Sunday, 13th July, 2025. 

An Islamic group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has described his death as a gargantuan loss. 

"The late ex-president was one of the few leaders of Nigeria who maintained his dignity till death. Though often misunderstood, Buhari was a complete gentleman who lived a Spartan life in and out of office. His death is a gargantuan loss to the nation as a whole.

"We commiserate with the nuclear and extended members of his family and we pray that Allah will grant them the fortitude to bear the loss. We equally condole with the governor and people of Katsina State as well as Nigerians in general. 

#DeathOfBuhari

#GargantuanLoss

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

EDE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL MOSQUE PROJECT: CALL DR DEJI ADELEKE, 7TH DAY ADVENTIST EDE TO ORDER NOW – MURIC

 


13th July, 2025

PRESS RELEASE

EDE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL MOSQUE PROJECT: CALL DR DEJI ADELEKE, 7TH DAY ADVENTIST EDE TO ORDER NOW

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Osun State Chapter, has accused the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Ede, of forcefully stopping the construction of a mosque inside Ede Senior High School, Ede, Osun State.

The human rights group warned that stoppage of mosque construction anywhere in Nigeria is an infringement on Allah-given fundamental human rights of Muslims and an undisguised invitation to religious crisis.  

The warning was contained in a statement issued on Sunday, 13th July, 2025 by the chairman of MURIC in Osun State, Dr. Abdul Razaq Bolawaye Uthman.

He said further:

“Our attention has been drawn to an ugly incident which occurred in Ede, Osun State which is capable of breaching security. The construction work of a mosque was forcefully and illegally stopped at Ede Senior High School, Ede, Osun State by members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church led by one Mr. Osundina.

“Mr Osundina, a former Principal of the school, led a group of people to the site on Friday 12th July, 2025 in collaboration with the Seventh Day Adventist Church members. It was also alleged that Dr Deji Adeleke’s personal call to the group sealed the action.

“Osun State Chapter of MURIC strongly condemns this act. It is illegal for any private individual or group of persons to stop another group’s construction work without official government document backing their action. It also amounts to religious bigotry for one religious group to stop the construction of a place of worship of another group.

“Information reaching our desk shows that necessary permission for the new construction was obtained from the Ministry of Education, Osun State, via letter ref P.PRY/390T/58 of 11th June, 2025 before the project was started. The action taken, in our estimation, was informed by religious fanaticism and it is capable of causing religious crisis of immense proportion.

“The Seventh Day Adventist, Ede, should note that Ede Senior High School is a government/community school not owned by the church. The claim that they were the former owners who can dictate to the school authorities is baseless.

“Neither does the claim that government took part of its land hold any water because the community actually owned the land ab initio and those who built school on it allegedly obtained it pro bono.

“Going by the religious disharmony experienced in the socio-political enclave during the immediate past administration in the state, Osun State cannot afford to boil again on the auspices of religion. The action allegedly taken by Dr Adeleke and his cohorts reminds us of the old constant religious disharmony in the state by certain agents provocateur.

“This assertion is premised on the fact that Ede Senior High School, Ede, the venue of the crisis, is one of the schools taken over by the Government from the community and this brought about its name, Ede Senior High School. As a public school which attracts students from diverse religious backgrounds, the fundamental human rights of students should not be violated.

“Section 38(i) of the Constitution lays emphasis on freedom of religion. Therefore the construction of mosques should not be disturbed. In addition, 38(ii) prohibits ‘Teaching and learning of religions different from that of parents of students’. Building of mosques in schools of this nature serves the purpose. 

“Dr Deji Adeleke might be using the state government’s fiat to stop the mosque construction thereby causing religious disharmony. But he should be reminded that this is not Adeleke University, Ede where all students are forced to attend the chapel irrespective of their religious backgrounds.

“The Muslim Council of Ede and other peace-loving stakeholders are implored to wade into the matter urgently. Osun State is known for religious harmony and mutual tolerance but allowing Dr Adeleke and his cohorts to bulldoze their way through on this matter might ignite a religious unrest in Ede in particular and Osun state in general.

“MURIC enjoins the peace-loving Muslims of Ede to be law-abiding while necessary machineries are set in motion to settle the matter. MURIC also calls on necessary authorities in the State and the Federal levels to strengthen peaceful co-existence in Ede in particular and Osun State generally by allowing the continuity of Ede Senior High School mosque project. 

Dr. Razaq Bolawaye Uthman,

Chairman,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

Friday, July 11, 2025

MURIC LAUDS SOLUDO FOR VINDICATING FULANI, FINGERS HIM AS FUTURE PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA

 


11th July, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:
MURIC LAUDS SOLUDO FOR VINDICATING FULANI, FINGERS HIM AS FUTURE PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA      

The Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has said majority of the kidnappings and killings in Anambra and other South-East states are not committed by Fulanis as widely believed but by criminals among the Igbo people.

Reacting to this, a faith-based advocacy and human rights group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has commended the governor for being forthright. The organisation also identified him as one possessing the right qualities of a future Nigerian president.

MURIC spoke via a statement issued on Friday, 11th July, 2025 by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

The statement reads:

“The Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has said majority of the kidnappings and killings in Anambra and other South-East states are not committed by Fulanis as widely believed but by criminals among the Igbo people.

“The governor stated this during an interactive town hall meeting with Anambra Indigenes in the Diaspora. The programme was held at the Metro Points Hotel in New Carrollton, Maryland, United States of America.

“In his own words, Soludo said, ‘99.99 per cent of kidnappers and other criminals arrested in the state since I assumed office three years ago have been Igbos’ (https://punchng.com/igbo-criminals-not-fulani-herdsmen-behind-south-east-killings-soludo/).

“This is a landmark declaration. It is indeed an eye-opener for all those who have been following the unfortunate incidents of kidnappings and killings in the South East. We give kudos to Governor Soludo for this honest assertion. It is bold, deep and far-reaching.

“For refusing to dance to the gallery and for hitting the nail on the head without caring whose ox is gored, Soludo has proved that he is a Nigerian-president-in-the-waiting.

“This incident has demystified the myth of the Fulani criminal which is more often than not bandied about among gullible Nigerians to stigmatise the Fulani race. On the contrary, we have always maintained that crime has no ethnicity, no religion. Criminals are available everywhere but many Southerners have been misled into believing that every kidnapping or killing committed in the region can only be traced to Fulanis.

“MURIC urges other governors, traditional rulers and community leaders in the region to follow the good example of Governor Soludo by speaking out on this subject. We must reject stereotypes. We must treat fellow Nigerians only on the basis of what we owe the rest of humanity, namely, openness, love and kindness.

“Soludo comes across as a suitable candidate for Aso Rock in the near future. Genuine national healing can only come under the leadership of a completely detribalized leader like Chukwuma Soludo. He speaks truth to his people and refuses to listen to sycophants.

“Instead of exhibiting disappointment and bitterness towards Governor Soludo for his frankness, we advise the Igbo people to rally round the governor. The South east is in dire need of a leader who is respected nationwide. Soludo has earned that nationwide respect through good governance and also with this Fulani-related incident.

“This is an indubitable presidential material that the Igbos must nurture to maturity. To us, anyone who has the capacity to accommodate all ethnicities and all faiths is a great asset. Soludo is a treasure without measure.  

“As we take a break, we charge people of other parts of the country to eschew their anti-Fulani prejudice. Innocent Fulanis have been attacked and killed in some parts of the country. Men of conscience should pause and reflect over the killings and profiling of innocent men and women simply because they belong to a particular race or religion. We must allow good reasoning and objectivity to dictate our actions, not sentiment, not emotion, not perception.”

#KudosGovernor Soludo

#FulaniNotCriminals

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

MURIC ALERTS LAGOS POLICE OVER CHRISTIAN LADY WEARING HIJAB TO PREACH CHRISTIANITY

 


9th July, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:
MURIC ALERTS LAGOS POLICE OVER CHRISTIAN LADY WEARING HIJAB TO PREACH CHRISTIANITY     

A faith-based human rights advocacy group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has alerted the security agencies to the emergence of a Christian lady who wears hijab to preach Christianity on the streets and inside buses in Lagos.

 

MURIC described the development as provocative and nauseating. The group also charged the security agencies to arrest and prosecute the lady in the interest of peace for impersonation and for conduct capable of disturbing public peace.

 

The alert was raised in a statement issued on Wednesday, 9th July, 2025 by the Executive Director of the organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

He said:

 

“We are in possession of three different video clips showing a Christian lady wearing the popular Muslim head cover known as hijab while preaching Christianity. In the first clip, the lady is seen on a Lagos street standing by the roadside and asking passers by to accept Jesus as their lord and saviour.

 

“In the second video clip the lady is seen inside a commercial bus preaching Christianity while wearing the Muslim hijab. The third clip showed where she boarded a bus after preaching. She had removed her hijab and it remained ordinary scarf on her head.

 

“The voice of a co-passenger could be heard asking her why she was preaching Christianity while wearing hijab. She responded by saying she was doing it because she heard a voice telling her to do so.

 

“We strongly condemn the attitude of this lady who preaches Christianity while wearing the Muslim hijab. She is a confusionist. Her actions are provocative, nauseating, shameful and preposterous. She is a danger to the community. With the evidence in our possession, it will be hard for her to successfully defend herself if charged with impersonation, false pretence and conduct likely to cause breach of public peace.

“People who hear voices in their heads and follow instructions dictated from upstairs are dangerous for society. This lady is a menace to law abiding citizens. Her behaviour is capable of causing religious crisis. She is, no doubt, an agent provocateur.

“It is clear that her targets are Muslims and she has decided to use deceit to convert them. This is illegal. Our lady evangelist has violated the law of the land. It is not her preaching that is illegal but she is using false appearance and claiming to be what she is not to deceive people. She manifests overzealousness and desperation. She has crossed the red line.

“MURIC calls on the Lagos Police Command and the State Security Services (DSS) to hunt this lady down. We call for her immediate arrest and prosecution before she can cause any religious riot.

“Lagos State has been peaceful for decades. Successive administrations in the state have succeeded in managing interfaith affairs with wisdom, regular interfaith gatherings and proper monitoring of religious activities with the help of the security agencies. The delicate balance has been stable due to the alertness and commitment of the security agencies. They must rise to the occasion now.

We advise Christian leaders and churches in the state, particularly the Christian Association of Nigeria (Lagos State Chapter) to curb the excesses of their followers. Religious overzealousness is speedily creeping into Christendom in Lagos State.

“Whole neighbourhoods are taken over by Christian preachers as early as 5 am everyday with noisy public address systems for more than two hours. Commuters and their commercial bus drivers are forced to listen to unsolicited preachings everyday as they go to and fro workplaces. These are signs of desperation. They are unnecessary panicky measures in the spiritual realm.

“We urge the Lagos State Government to rekindle its efforts in ensuring environmental sanity in the state. The ban on preaching inside buses should be amplified and enforced. We appeal to CAN to play responsible leadership role in this regard.

“We appeal to Muslims who come across the lady preaching in this manner to leave her alone but to go to the nearest police station to lodge a report. Nobody should take the law into his hands. Besides, we Muslims are the faces of Islam in the country and our faith will be judged according to our behaviour.

“We should also be guided by the hadith of Muhammad the Prophet of Peace, particularly where he said, ‘Exercise patience whenever you are provoked’ (As-sabr ‘inda as-sadmatil-uula’).”

#LagosPoliceCommand

#ChristianLadyPreachingWithHijab

#StopReligiousCrisis

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

Sunday, July 6, 2025

WHY WE REQUESTED 6 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS – MURIC

 


7th July, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:
WHY WE REQUESTED 6 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS – MURIC    

The Senate Committee on Constitutional amendments South West Zone sat on Friday 5th and Saturday 6th, July, 2025 for its public hearing. Among those who presented position papers was an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC). The group tabled six requests for constitutional amendments.

 

As a follow-up to its position paper, the faith-based non-governmental organization issued a press statement on Monday, 7th July, 2025 to explain the rationale for asking the Senate to amend six areas in the Nigerian constitution. The statement was signed by the Founder and Executive Director of the advocacy group for Allah-given fundamental human rights, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

MURIC explained its position:

“We must start from the lanes of history because today was born from the wombs of yesterday. Islam has been in Nigeria since the 11th century and the British met Islam on ground when they arrived in the 19th century (800 years later). The British did not deem it fit to observe the rules of natural justice when they colonized the country as all Islamic landmarks were eliminated and supplanted with a Christian system.

“This injustice may have been at the root of frequent religious crisis in Nigeria because successive governments after independence refused to listen to the agitations of Muslims for a review of the status quo. Colonial administration was therefore grossly unfair to Muslims. Nigeria was Christianised by Britain and Muslims bore the brunt.

“The issues being raised by Muslims for consideration during the constitution amendment exercise are listed in the following paragraphs so that the lawmakers can address them.

“One: Nigerians enjoy a total of eight (8) public holidays in a year. These are Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Id al-Kabir, Id al-Fitr and Maulud an-Nabiyy. Five (5) of the eight holidays belong to Christians (Christmas Day, Boxing Day, 1st January, i.e, New Year Day, Good Friday and Easter Monday). Only three (3) holidays belong to Muslims, viz, Id al-Kabir, Id al-Fitr and Maulud an-Nabiyy.

“The planned constitutional amendment should make the restructuring of Nigeria’s holidays mandatory so that 1st Muharram (or Hijrah) holiday which Nigerian Muslims have been clamouring for can become officially recognized nationwide. This will bring the total number of Muslim holidays to four while Christian holidays remain five.

 “Two: Christian marriages contracted inside churches or registries are held sacrosanct everywhere in Nigeria whereas Muslim marriages (nikah) are not recognized for any official purpose. Muslim couples find themselves in a cul de sac each time they presented their Islamic marriage certificates for official purposes. It is paradoxical that in a democracy, one marriage conducted by a religious group is acceptable while the other is not.

“We therefore propose a constitutional amendment revisiting the Nigerian Marriage Act (1990) to ensure that Islamic marriages are recognized in all official circles like Christian marriages.  

“Three: Thursday and Friday were the weekends enjoyed by Muslims in the precolonial era. Today, Nigeria has a two-day weekend, viz, Saturday and Sunday. The latter was imposed by the colonial masters but Saturday was a half day during the colonial era and Sunday was the only full day at the weekend. However, Saturday was made a full day to favour the Seventh Day Adventists, a Christian denomination during the regime of General Yakubu Gowon, a Christian military ruler. It is very clear, therefore, that the two weekend days recognized in Nigeria belong to Christians while Muslims have none since Friday, the Muslim day of worship, remains a working day. 

“It is pertinent to note that Friday was a work-free day until the British brought Christianity and stopped Muslims from enjoying their Allah-given fundamental human right. The relief we are seeking through an amendment or restructuring is that Friday should be declared free to assume parity with the Christians’ Sunday. While we are not seeking anarchy, we are confident that the Federal Government (FG) has all the paraphernalia of administration to work out the modalities.

“Four: Immigration officials engage in regular stereotyping of Muslims who apply for international passports. They intimidate Muslims particularly at the point of taking pictures. Muslim males are ordered to remove their caps; Imams are coerced into removing their turbans; bearded Muslims are compelled to shave or trim their beards; hijab-wearing Muslim women are made to remove their hijabs or ordered to draw their hijab backwards to reveal their ears. The same scenario plays itself out in driving licence, national identity card offices and during registration for elections.

“In the process, thousands of Muslims have been denied international passports, driving licences and  national identity cards while millions have been disenfranchised during elections. The authorities must find a way of stopping the persecution and profiling of Muslims. If necessary, this should be done through a mention or an amendment of the constitution spelling out specifics of identifications in Nigeria without prejudice to the adherents of any faith. The digitalization, identification and documentation of all Nigerian citizens should accommodate all religions.

“Five: Uniformed groups in Nigeria, including the army, police, uniformed voluntary groups, nurses, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), students of primary and secondary schools, etc, use uniforms designed by the Christian colonialists. These uniforms should have been reviewed after independence because they only suit Christian values. Some of them constitute breaches to Islamic dress code and offend the sensibilities of Muslims who are compelled to wear the uniforms regardless of their inner feeling of resentment.

“In view of the fact that Western countries like Britain, Canada and the United States have designed uniforms with hijab for their female Muslim, soldiers, police, students, etc, Nigerian Muslims are in dire need of constitutional protection. Official uniforms in the country should be friendly to all religions. 

“Six: There is no single Shari’ah court in South Western Nigeria where Muslims constitute the majority. This is contrary to what obtained in Yorubaland before the advent of the British. There were Shariah courts in Ede, Iwo, Ikirun, Ibadan, etc. Yoruba Muslims are now compelled to take their civil matters like inheritance, marriage, etc to Christo-Western courts. This is preposterous and unacceptable.

“In particular, we propose an amendment to the clause ‘for any state that desires it’ which is in Section 275 of the Constitution. The Section says inter alia: There shall be for any state that desires it a Shari’ah Court of Appeal for that state’.

 

“This clause has often been misinterpreted by anti-Muslim elements as ‘for any state governor that desires it’. We are of the strong opinion that there should be a constitutional provision compelling all state governors and their assemblies to establish Shari’ah courts of appeal in their domains for their Muslim citizens in the same manner that there are conventional courts in Muslim dominated areas of the country.

 

“If Nigeria is truly a democracy, its laws must not only be inclusive throughout the country but also participatory. But what we have on ground is the contrary. Common law courts which are Christian-oriented are everywhere in Nigeria, including places like Kano, Maiduguri and Sokoto which are traditional Muslim areas but Shariah courts are not allowed anywhere in the South. This is lack of accommodation, outright intolerance and desertification of inclusiveness.

 

“It is an open secret that Nigeria is a multi-religious country with three main types of faith: Muslims, Christians and traditionalists. The Constitution has also prepared the ground for a tripartite legal system to meet the needs of the adherents of the three main religions. That is why we have common law for the Christians, Shariah Courts for the Muslims and Customary Courts for the traditionalists. Common law and customary courts are everywhere in Nigeria except Shari’ah courts which have been restricted to the North. This is a violation of Allah-given fundamental rights of Southern Muslims.

 

“As we draw the curtain, we jog the conscience of honest Nigerians by reminding them that Christians anywhere in the country have access to five layers of justice under common law, namely, the Magistrate Court, the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

 

“But their Muslim counterparts in the South have no access to their own Shariah anywhere at all. It amounts to undemocratic and tyrannical denial of access to the judiciary. This must change if the Nigerian nation acknowledges the existence of Muslims in the region, otherwise it becomes a huge existential challenge and a threat to peace whose consequences are unfathomable.”

 

#NigerianSenate

#ConstituionalAmendment

#MuricSixReliefs

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)