The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has warned that any attempt by the United States or external actors to pressure Nigeria into abolishing Shari’ah law and the hisbah system could destabilise the country and undermine national unity.
In a statement issued on Thursday, December 4, 2025, the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, accused a United States-based scholar, Dr. Ebenezer Obadare, of “crossing the red line” by urging Washington to pressure President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to outlaw Shari’ah and hisbah operations in parts of Nigeria.
Dr. Obadare, a Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, reportedly made the call during a joint House briefing following the designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” by US President Donald Trump. MURIC described the recommendation as misguided and reflective of neo-colonial interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs.
According to Akintola, Shari’ah is inseparable from Islam and represents a core aspect of Muslim life, culture, and identity. He argued that any move to abolish it would be interpreted by Muslims as a deliberate attempt to eliminate Islam itself.
“Shari’ah is the Muslims’ way of life. It cannot be separated from Islam. Any attempt to tamper with it amounts to seeking the total eradication of Islam. This is a red line that must not be crossed,” Akintola said.
MURIC further stressed that both Shari’ah courts and the hisbah are recognised under Nigeria’s constitutional framework, particularly within the country’s federal system, which allows states to adopt legal structures that reflect the wishes of their people. The group maintained that abolishing these institutions would contradict democratic principles and the rule of law.
The organisation also cautioned that linking Shari’ah and hisbah to terrorism could severely damage ongoing counterterrorism efforts. It warned that Muslim communities, who have largely cooperated with security agencies in combating violent extremism, could withdraw support if they feel targeted or marginalised.
“The greatest danger in tampering with Shari’ah is that the government risks losing the cooperation of moderate and mainstream Muslims who have consistently opposed terrorism,” the statement noted.
MURIC also criticised some Nigerian Christians who had previously opposed Shari’ah through legal and democratic means but are now, according to the group, seeking foreign intervention to achieve their aims. It described such actions as undemocratic and divisive, warning that altering the Constitution to favour one group over another could deepen religious tensions.
While reaffirming support for President Tinubu’s efforts to tackle insecurity and terrorism, MURIC issued a firm warning that any attempt—local or foreign—to outlaw Shari’ah would fundamentally alter Muslim support for the government and threaten the fragile balance holding Nigeria together.