Ibadan, Nigeria – A Professor of Law at the University of Ilorin, Abdulrazzaq Alaro, has renewed calls for broader implementation of Shari’ah law across Nigeria, asserting that it holds the potential to address national challenges and enhance justice.
Speaking at the 2025 Ramadan Lecture organized by the Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria (MULAN), Oyo State branch, Alaro emphasized that Shari’ah encompasses all known branches of law and provides a comprehensive legal framework for societal governance. The event took place at the Aare Afe Babalola Bar Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan, on Sunday.
Alaro dismissed concerns over an alleged Islamization agenda, describing opposition to Shari’ah, particularly in Southern Nigeria, as a denial of Muslims’ constitutional rights. He clarified that Shari’ah extends beyond criminal justice, covering public and private law, business and commercial law, and even international legal principles.
“As a Professor of Shari’ah, I can confidently state that there is no branch of law recognized by Common Law or any other legal system that is absent in Shari’ah,” he asserted.
Citing Islamic banking and SUKUK bonds, Alaro highlighted how Shari’ah-based financial systems have successfully contributed to infrastructure development.
“Since 2017, SUKUK financing has facilitated the construction of 124 road projects spanning over 5,280 kilometers across Nigeria, yet Nigeria remains a multi-religious nation,” he noted.
He argued that incorporating Shari’ah in governance would not compromise Nigeria’s secular status but rather enhance fairness and economic progress.
Addressing concerns over Shari’ah’s punitive aspects, Alaro explained that deterrence, not punishment, is its primary objective. He emphasized that Shari’ah aligns with constitutional rights to freedom of religion and conscience and should not be viewed solely through the lens of capital punishment.
He further criticized the absence of Shari’ah Courts of Appeal in Southern Nigeria, stating that Muslims in these regions are deprived of their constitutional rights.
“The 1999 Constitution guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. In any state without a Shari’ah court, Muslims cannot fully exercise their religious rights,” he argued.
As Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections, Alaro urged Muslims to support candidates who advocate for the implementation of Shari’ah law and the establishment of Shari’ah courts.
Other notable speakers at the event included Prof. Musliu Yahya, Executive Secretary of the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria, who urged Muslims to align with both the Qur’an and Nigerian Constitution; Justice Kareem Adedokun, Oyo State High Court Judge, who attributed opposition to Shari’ah in the South to ignorance and religious intolerance; and Mutiu Abdulsalam, representing the Managing Director of Lotus Bank, who reaffirmed that Shari’ah is a fundamental right for Muslims and cited the success of Islamic banking and SUKUK.
The event was attended by top legal and political figures, including the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ibadan Branch, Ibrahim Lawal, and Oyo State’s Attorney General, Abiodun Aikomo, among others.
Speakers at the event called for a constitutional review to mandate the establishment of Shari’ah Courts of Appeal across all Nigerian states, emphasizing that such a move would not impose Islamic law on non-Muslims but rather uphold the religious rights of the Muslim population.
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