USA White House
By Olayiwola Mercy
The U.S. Congress was briefed on Tuesday about a growing push to force Nigeria’s government to scrap Sharia law in the 12 northern states where it’s been in force since 2000. The call came from Dr. Ebenezer Obadare, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, who argued that the legal framework is being exploited by extremist groups and is fueling religious persecution.
Obadare warned that the Hisbah religious‑enforcement commissions, which operate under Sharia, have become a conduit for Boko Haram, ISWAP and radical Fulani militants to spread ideology and carry out forced conversions. He pointed to recent kidnappings—like the November attack on St Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State—and a spate of blasphemy prosecutions as evidence of the danger.
The briefing comes on the heels of the United States redesignating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern for religious‑freedom violations. Lawmakers from both parties expressed alarm, noting that the status could trigger restrictions on U.S. aid unless concrete steps are taken to protect religious minorities.
In response, Obadare outlined a two‑fold strategy: first, work with Nigeria’s security forces to neutralize the insurgent groups that hide behind Sharia, and second, pressure President Bola Tinubu’s administration to amend the constitution and dissolve the Hisbah commissions. He said such moves would signal a commitment to uphold universal human rights.
The Appropriations Committee indicated it is drafting a report that could tie future U.S. assistance to Nigeria to the implementation of these reforms. While no formal legislation has been introduced yet, the bipartisan interest suggests the issue is gaining traction on Capitol Hill.
If the pressure succeeds, it would mark a significant shift in Nigeria’s legal landscape, potentially curbing the influence of Sharia courts and the Hisbah bodies that have been criticized for violating constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion. For now, the debate continues both in Washington and across Nigeria’s diverse religious communities.
