NIGERIAN MUSLIMS AND THE INTRIGUES OF THE 1999 CONSTITUTION AS AMENDED: AN EXAMINATION OF ITS PRINCIPLES WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF ISLAMIC LAW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21580/jish.v8i1.14206Keywords:
Constitution, Examination, Islamic Law, Nigerian Muslims, PrinciplesAbstract
The sovereignty of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution as amended over its citizens which include Muslims and non-Muslims is absolute and binding. In this regard and despite the absolute power ascribed to this Constitution, Nigerian Muslims like other Muslims are also expected to adhere strictly to all Islamic precepts as enjoined in the Qur’ān and Sunnah amidst the imposition of British-inclined legal system on which the 1999 Constitution was codified. Though, the present Constitution was enthroned on the Country’s nascent democracy by a Military Junta, its constitutionality and appropriateness to Nigerian religious and cultural diversities has become a lingering debate for over two decades. To this end, this paper examines some of the principles of the 1999 Constitution such as Sharī‘ah application and classification in Nigeria and the syndrome of secularism in the context of Islamic law as they affect Nigerian Muslims. It was then revealed that despite the recognition of Sharī‘ah as a source of law by the Constitution, its applicability and enforcement has been demeaned as a mere customary law for decades. The paper then suggested that to overturn this incongruity, Nigerian Muslims should renew their concerted agitations for total application of Sharī‘ah and enforcement of its jurisdictions from lower to apex courts in Nigeria through constitutional review since the current Constitution was not people-centric.
Downloads
References
Adegbite, Kehinde “is Nigeria a Secular State?” The New Jurist, International Law Magazine, (2022) https://newjurist.com/is-nigeria-secular.html
Adetona, Lateef Mobolaji “Dynamics of the Independent Shari’ah Panel in Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria” in Adetona, L.M (ed.) Essays on Islam, Youth and Contemporary Issues, (Ibadan, Nigeria: Free Enterprise Publishers, 2011)
Ajani, Murtala Abdus-Salam “The Religious Significance of Unity in Islam: Lessons for the Nigerian Muslims” Journal of Islam in Nigeria, Vol. 3 No 2 (2008)
Akintola, Lakin Ishaq Shari’ah in Nigeria: An Eschatological Desideratum, (Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria: Shebotimo Publishers, (2001)
Akintola, Lakin Ishaq “Implementation of the Shari‘ah in Nigeria: The Impact on the Common Folks” in Zakariyau, I. Oseni (ed.) A Digest of Islamic Law and Jurisprudence in Nigeria (Auchi, Nigeria: Darun-Nur, 2003)
Ambali, Muttalib Atanda The Practice of Muslim Family Law in Nigeria, 2nd ed., Lagos, Nigeria: Princeton Publishing, 2003)
Badaiki, Afeisimi Dominic (2001) Development of Customary Law ,2nd ed., Lagos, Nigeria: Tiken Publishers, 2001)
Bakht, Munir et al “The Nature and Philosophy of Sovereignty: A Comparative Analysis of Western and Islamic Notions of Sovereignty” Global Legal Studies Review, Vol. V, No. III (2020)
Black’s Law Dictionary, 9th Edition.
Busari, Jamiu Muhammad “Shari‘a as Customary Law? An Analytical Assessment from the Nigerian Constitution and Judicial Precedents” AHKAM, Vol. 21, No 1 (2021)
Chatham House, The Review of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution: Report of Consultation with UK-based Nigerians, (UK: 2013) http://www.chathamhouse.org/events/view/189367
Chaturvedi A. K Dictionary of Political Science. (New Delhi, India: Academic Publishers, 2006)
Doi, AbdulRahman Shariah: The Islamic Law (London: Ta Ha Publishers, 1984)
Emilia, Justyna Powell and Steven, McDowell “Islamic Sovereignty Norms and Peaceful Settlement of Territorial Disputes” iCourts Working Paper Series, No 47 (2016) https://ssrn.com/abstract=2744651
Gbadamosi, Tajudeen The Growth of Islam among Yoruba 1841-1908 (London, UK: Longman Group Ltd press, 1978)
Gbadamosi, Tajudeen “Shariah in Southern-Nigeria: The Experience of Yorubaland” in A. M Yakubu et al (eds.) Understanding Shari'ah in Nigeria (Ibadan, Nigeria: Spectrum Books Limited, 2001)
Goldenberg, Naomi “Religion and Its Limit: Reflection on Discursive Borders and Boundaries” Journal of the Irish Society for the Academic Study of Religion (JISASR) 7, (2019)
Ilesanmi, Simeon (2001) “Constitutional Treatment of Religion and the Politics of Human Rights in Nigeria” African Affairs, Vol.100 No.401 (2001)
Jadesola, Lokulo-Sodipe et al (n.d) Legal Basis for Research Ethics Governance in Nigeria, (Unknown Publisher, n.d) https://elearning.trree.org/mod/page/view.php?id=142
Kolajo, A. A Customary Law in Nigeria through the Cases, Ibadan, Nigeria: Spectrum Books Limited, 2000)
Makinde, AbdulFatai Kola “The Entanglement of Shari‘ah Application in South-western Nigeria” Africology: The Journal of Pan African Studies, Vol.10, No 5 (2017)
Makinde, AbdulFatai Kola and Ostien, Philip (2011) “Independent Sharia Panel of Lagos State” Emory International Law Review, Vol. 25 (2011)
Mohammed Bello’s Key note Address in A. M Yakubu et al (eds.) Understanding Shari'ah in Nigeria (Ibadan, Nigeria: Spectrum Books Limited, 2001)
Muneer, Kuttiyani Muhammed and Muhammad, Mumtaz Ali “The Shariah and Law: An Analysis” in International Journal of Law, Government and Communication, Vol.2, Issue 5 (2017)
Mwinyi, T. Haji and Sambo, O. AbdulFatai “The Influence of Common Law Advocates and Judges in the Sharī‛ah Adjudication: A Critical Exposition of the Experience in Nigeria and Zanzibar” Journal of Law, Policy and Globalization Vol 5 (2012)
Oba, Adebayo Abdulmumini “Islamic Law as Customary Law: The Changing Perspective in Nigeria” The International and Comparative Law Quarterly, Vol. 51(2002)
Obilade, Akintude Olusegun The Nigerian Legal System (Ibadan, Nigeria: Spectrum Law Publishing, 1979)
Ogbu, Osita Nnamani. "Is Nigeria a Secular State? Law, Human Rights and Religion in Context." The Transnational Human Rights Review 1. (2014) https://digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca/thr/vol1/iss1/4
Ogoloma, I. Fineface “Secularism in Nigeria: An Assessment” AFRREV IJAH, An International Journal of Arts and Humanities, Vol. 1:3 (2012)
Olatoye, Kareem and Yekini, Abubakar “Islamic Law in Southern Nigerian Courts: Constitutional and Conflict of Laws Perspective” Benin Journal of Public Law, Vol.6 (2019)
Oloyede, Ishaq “Islam in Nigeria: A Century of National Islamic Societies” Journal of Islam in Nigeria, Vol.1, No 1 (1978)
Ostien, Philip et al (n.d) “Nigeria’s Sharia Courts” in M. Tabiu, A.R. Mustapha and P. Ostien (eds) Sharia Implementation in Northern Nigeria Twenty Years On (n.d) https://ssrn.com/abstract=3370453
Ruud, Peters “The Reintroduction of Islamic Criminal Law in Northern Nigeria” (2001) https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/1411812/mv177_peters-ngr0901.pdf
Salisu, Taiwo Moshood “Shari’ah: The Missing Law in the Scheme of Legal Option in South-western Nigeria” LASU Journal of Humanities, Vol.9 (2014)
Sanni, Amidu (2007) “Shari’ah Conundrum in Nigeria and Zamfara Model: The Role of Nigerian Muslim Youth in the Historical Context, Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs, Vol. 27:1 (2007)
Suberu, Rotimi “Nigeria’s Permanent Constitutional Transition: Military Rule, Civilian Instability and ‘True Federalism’ in a Deeply Divided Society” Occasional Paper Series Number 34, (2019)
Tobi, Niki Sources of Nigerian Law (Lagos, Nigeria: MIJ Publishers, 2006)
Udogu, Ike “A History of Nigeria” Africa Today, Vol 55:4 (2010)
Uthman, Ibrahim Olatunde “One Country, Many Religions: Muslim/Christian Relations in Nigeria and the Modern Secular State” in Wade Clark Roof et al (eds) The Study of US Institute Religious Pluralism and Public Presence (n.d).
Yadudu Hamisu Auwal “Colonialism and the Transformation of Islamic Law in the Northern States of Nigeria” Journal of Legal Pluralism, nr.32 (1992)
Yadudu, Hamisu Auwal “Dialogue of the Deaf: The Shari‘ah Debate in Nigeria” in Zakariyau, I. Oseni (ed.) A Digest of Islamic Law and Jurisprudence in Nigeria (Auchi, Nigeria: Darun -Nur,2003)
Yushau, Sodiq, A history of the Application of Islamic law in Nigeria, (USA: Palgrave Macmillan, 2017)
Yusuf, AbdulRashid and Sheriff, E. Okoh Succession under Islamic Law (Lagos, Nigeria: Malthouse Press Limited, 2011)
