SHARIA AND ITS EXTREME PENAL CODE IN NIGERIA.

By Nwabunwanne David (Abia writers)

Edited by Chidi Aloysius Nwosu

Yes, it is more than extreme leftist that put up criticism and challenges, not only in the Muslim fold but also on everyone living within the premises of the laws. Before this extreme left, Islamic canonical law was based on the teachings of the Quran and the traditions of the Prophet (Hadith and Sunna). These prescribe both religious and secular duties and sometimes retributive penalties for law breaking. It has generally been supplemented by legislation adapted to the conditions of the day, though how it should be applied in modern states is a subject of dispute between Muslim, traditionalists and reformists. The Islamic or rather Sharia law is a religious law forming part of the Islamic tradition. It is derived from the religious precepts of Islam, particularly the Quran and the Hadith. 

Since the early Islamic states of the eighth and ninth centuries, Islamic laws have always existed alongside other normative systems. Historically, independent jurists, interpret sharia based on Islamic scriptural sources and various legal methodologies. It had drawn so much criticism from so many quarters globally that had inhibited good and sound relationship. You can imagine when one calls fellow citizens that are not in the same religions fold infidels, and for that never put him or her in the room of trust. A faith without forgiveness that is ready to cut off neighbour’s hands because of one error or the other. 

Those that can go killing the other fellows they claimed to be infidels, hoping that, seven virgins are waiting to be given to them, by their Allah. They do not believe in the Western Education but depend wholly on Arabic nomenclature, and thereby disdain others, ready to go into battlefront with others, on belief differences. They have the approval from the Sharia penal code to marry six years old girls, who do not know her left or right in the journey of life and marriage. And for extremism, many had termed sharia as, an enemy of good and secular life, lowering of women dignity, and even other men in error is of great concern to humanity as a whole. 

According to a 2010 study that was released in January 2011, Islam has 1.5 billion adherents, making up over 22% of the world population. According to the Pew Research Center in 2015, there were 50 Muslim-majority countries but the Worldatlas.com of April 2017, identified only 45 'Islamic countries but in all, only fifteen (15) countries of the world could implement this form of Sharia law which include: Afghanistan, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, certain regions in Indonesia, the Maldives, Malaysia, Mauritania, northern part of Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen, a critical look at these countries operating sharia penal code, you will undoubtedly discover that they have more significant problems and so many evils happening around them are swept under the carpets that no-one dear lift up their voice.

In Nigeria, the Sharia penal code has been raised above our civil and the common laws. How do you now consider Nigeria who has appointed a sharia judge Tanko Mohammed to oversee the office of Chief Justice of Federation of Nigeria, where there are so many secular and common law judges with western education, which are accepted anywhere in the globe, and can operate anywhere without foremost religious bigotry. Nigeria is in a dire state of severe smoke everywhere that may spark off fire very soon.

Long live Biafra.