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Exploratory Analysis Of The Constitutionality Of Sharia Law In Some Nigerian States, Andrew Ewoh, Chinelo Okekeocha

Andrew I.E. Ewoh

Nigeria has a federal system of government where political power is shared between the national and state governments. Nigeria returned to this system of governance on May 29, 1999 after sixteen years of military rule. In terms of religion, the country is uniquely split between Christians and Muslims. Christians are the majority in the south, while Muslims dominate the north. In 2000, Governor Sani of Zamfara State introduced an Islamic law popularly known as Sharia in his state. Eleven other northern states immediately followed suit. The northern states and the federal government were at strife on the constitutionality of an …