Nigeria’s Chief Justice And The Sharia Proposition Nigeria’s Chief Justice And The Sharia Proposition
By Pius Mordi At a time the judiciary he heads is being desecrated by the DSS, our CJN’s concern is how to amend the... Nigeria’s Chief Justice And The Sharia Proposition

By Pius Mordi

At a time the judiciary he heads is being desecrated by the DSS, our CJN’s concern is how to amend the constitution for greater application of Sharia. Be very afraid. In saner climes, religion is rightly seen as a personal enterprise. Thus in holding public office, a person swears to be loyal to the state and work for the development of his country. When he was sworn as CJN, Tanko Ibrahim pledged to defend the constitution. Swearing with the Quran or Bible is only an acknowledgement of individual religious affiliation.
In the heat of the rumblings in the judiciary when agents of the DSS desecrated the hallowed chambers of a high court, Tanko Ibrahim who heads one of the co-equals in the three arms of government was concerned only with Sharia. He told his audience that as Moslems, they have the numbers to amend constitution so the application of the Sharia can be deepened.
That’s alarming. For all that is wrong with Nigeria, the CJN’s major interest is spreading Sharia because “we have the numbers”. If so much time and energy is devoted to Sharia by this man, when does he think about Nigeria, about improving the administration of justice if he ever does? But that is his primary duty as CJN.
This is precisely why it is dangerous to include religion in the constitution. In a federation as Nigeria, religion or Sharia or any religious dogma has no basis to be included in the federal constitution. Federating states are at liberty to apply the Sharia or any religious code to any level they desire. Zamfara pioneered the adoption of wholesale Sharia and other northern states that so desired followed suit.
Why is making the Sharia a federal legal code the primary interest of Tanko Ibrahim? He’s given the impression that he is a Moslem CJN which he is not, even though he’s a Moslem. He is Nigeria’s Chief Justice before anything else and his statement on spreading Sharia is an abuse of his office. When, ultimately, Nigeria gets to have the constitution it deserves as a federation, religion and all religious codes must not be included. States should be at liberty to adopt any religious legal code they deem expedient for their people.
For now, the CJN has veered off horribly. He should retract that statement and if he desires to make the spread of Sharia his pet project, he will do to leave office and concentrate on his vision full time.

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