U.S. Has No Authority to Demand Abolition of Sharia in Nigeria - Presidency

Presidential Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala,has dismissed suggestions by some United States lawmakers that Nigeria shouldabolish Sharia law, insisting that the US has no legal or moral authority todictate constitutional changes to a sovereign nation. Speaking on Thursday during an interview on AriseTelevision, Bwala said any attempt by a foreign country to instruct Nigeria onconstitutional matters would amount to an attack on its sovereignty. “They don’t have the locus,” he said when asked whether theUS government had the right to push Nigeria to disband Sharia law in northernstates or amend its constitution. “In doing that, it’ll amount to infringing on theterritorial integrity and territorial right of a country,” Bwala added. The Presidential aide argued that even President DonaldTrump’s recent threat of possible military intervention was inconsistent withinternational norms and the US convention. He said, “Even the threat of possible military invasion isnot consistent with the US convention, because there are only three conditionsupon which another country can invade militarily. Either you invited by thatcountry, or you are at war with that country, or the United Nations asks you tobe in that country,” he explained. He noted that Sharia law, currently operational in 12northern states, is not a federal policy but a state-level legal frameworkpermitted under Nigeria’s federal structure. “Sharia law is not a national law. We also practice federalsystem of government, although their own is more advanced,” he stated. It would be recalled that during a joint congressionalbriefing on Tuesday, US lawmakers were urged to pressure Nigeria to abolishSharia law and disband Hisbah religious police, with experts warning thatextremist groups exploit these structures to advance violent persecution ofChristians. Dr. Ebenezer Obadare, Senior Fellow for Africa Studies atthe Council on Foreign Relations, told lawmakers that Boko Haram, ISWAP andradicalised militia groups “weaponise Sharia-based institutions and Hisbahoperatives to advance extremist ideology, enforce forced conversions, andoperate unchecked in many communities.” But Bwala stressed that Nigeria’s constitution is notsubject to foreign approval. “We differ with them on this idea of amending ourconstitution. Nigeria is a sovereign state, has never been colonized by Americaanywhere and we are not Venezuela,” he stated.

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