Nigeria: Controversial Bill on Extension of Islamic Law in Constitution Rejected

The House of Representatives has rejected a controversial bill that sought to expand the scope of Islamic law in Nigeria’s 1999 constitution. Led by MP Aliyu Missau, the bill proposed removing the term “personnel” associated with Islamic law , thus allowing its wider application. The measure aimed to reform articles 24, 262, 277 and 288 of the constitution, which currently limit Islamic jurisdiction to personal matters.

The debate revealed deep divisions among MPs, particularly along regional lines. Representatives from the North were mostly supportive, citing developments such as the creation of the Jaiz Bank operating under Islamic law. On the other hand, deputies from the South, like Solomon Bob, expressed fears about the broader implications of the amendment, recalling that the limitation to “personal matters” had been planned to avoid a too broad scope. vast scope of Islamic law.

The rejection of this bill highlights the regional and religious tensions that persist within Nigeria, highlighting the challenges of striking a constitutional balance between the country’s different cultural and religious aspirations. This decision also illustrates the desire of deputies to preserve the distinction between civil and religious laws in order to avoid expanding the influence of Islamic law beyond the private sphere.