Abrogation of Sharia Law Is a Red Line – Dan Malikin Bauchi

A former member House of Representatives, Aminu Danmaliki, (Dan Malikin Bauchi), has declared that any attempt to abolish Sharia law in Nigeria would be a “red line,” while condemning a report presented to former U.S. President Donald Trump by U.S. Congressman Riley M. Moore calling for the repeal of Sharia and blasphemy laws in the country.

Speaking at a press conference, Danmaliki dismissed allegations that Christians are facing genocide in Northern Nigeria, insisting that the claim is false and misleading. 

According to him, Nigeria is experiencing a complex security crisis that affects both Muslims and Christians, rather than a religious extermination campaign.

He noted that several prominent figures and institutions have also rejected the genocide narrative, including Islamic scholar Ahmad Gumi, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Matthew Hassan Kukah, the Vatican under Pope Francis, the Federal Government of Nigeria, and numerous traditional rulers across the country.

Danmaliki explained that Nigeria’s security challenges are largely driven by insurgency from groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province, as well as rural banditry, organized kidnapping networks, governance weaknesses, and the proliferation of weapons across the Sahel region.

The former lawmaker further stressed that Sharia law in Nigeria applies only to Muslims and operates within the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution. 

Non-Muslims, he said, are not subject to Sharia criminal law and cannot be compelled to appear before Sharia courts.

He added that Sharia courts often handle civil matters efficiently, noting that some non-Muslims voluntarily approach the courts due to their quicker procedures and lower litigation costs.

Danmaliki also highlighted historical perspectives, arguing that elements of modern English legal traditions were influenced by Islamic jurisprudence centuries ago through contact between Europe and Muslim societies.

He also added that portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as a religious genocide misrepresents the reality on the ground and undermines the complexity of the crisis facing the country.