A respected Islamic scholar in Bauchi State, Dan Malikin Bauchi, Alh. Aminu Mohammed, has strongly criticized renewed calls by some Christian activists for the abolition of Sharia law in Nigeria.
Addressing journalists in Bauchi, Mohammed described the campaign as ill-informed and unacceptable. He argued that Sharia does not threaten Nigeria’s unity or stability, but instead provides a framework rooted in justice, fairness, and moral accountability.
He explained that the value of Sharia goes beyond court rulings, emphasizing its guiding principles that promote due process, protection of life and property, human dignity, checks on leadership, and the safeguarding of vulnerable individuals.
Mohammed said the attempt by a group of Christian activists to discredit Sharia before a joint session of the American Congress was driven by fear, misinformation, and political motives rather than evidence or historical realities.
“On behalf of practicing Nigerian Muslims, who constitute the majority, I fully condemn this act by Christian groups trying to create unnecessary friction between Muslims and Christians,” he stated.
He recalled a previous incident where, according to him, Christian representatives allegedly misled the US Congress by claiming that Christians in Nigeria were facing genocide — a claim he dismissed as baseless. He warned that similar efforts to malign Islam or Sharia would not succeed.
Mohammed stressed that Muslims would never support any governance structure that excludes Sharia, which he said does not infringe on Christian rights and remains constitutionally protected in Nigeria.
He added that the Sharia system used in Northern Nigeria applies strictly to Muslims and is recognized internationally — including by institutions in the United States — as a legitimate legal tradition.
The scholar called for mutual respect, informed dialogue, and a balanced understanding of Sharia, stressing its constitutional backing, historical record of justice, and contributions to global civilization and peaceful coexistence.