Popular Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has defended the application of Sharia law in Nigeria, insisting that it remains the exclusive prerogative of Muslims, just as the United States protects Christian interests in its governance and foreign policy.
Naija News reports that Gumi was reacting to reports that some members of the US Congress had submitted a request to Donald Trump, urging him to press for the abolition of Shariah and blasphemy laws in Nigeria.
In a series of posts shared on his verified social media page, the Kaduna-based cleric maintained that Muslims reserve the right to be governed by their religious injunctions without external interference.
Defending the Islamic legal system, Gumi declared that Shariah law is a matter of religious freedom and self-determination for Muslims.
“Shariah Law is the Muslims’ prerogative just as the US found it only necessary to protect the Christians,” he wrote.
His comments come amid renewed international scrutiny of religious laws in Nigeria, particularly in some northern states where Shariah operates alongside the conventional legal system.
The cleric also alleged that Muslims in Nigeria have been victims of what he described as “occult terror” imported into the country by unnamed forces.
“At the same time, Muslims are more victims of this occult terror imported into the country by hidden forces they very well know,” Gumi stated.
Although he did not elaborate on the specific forces he referenced, the comment appears to reflect his long-standing position on security and religious tensions in the country.
In another post, Gumi questioned what he described as a double standard in the global discourse on religion and governance.
“It’s ok for US evangelical Christians administration for Israel to live by biblical stories yet Haram for Muslims to live by the Quranic injunctions,” he wrote.
The cleric’s remarks suggest frustration over what he perceives as selective criticism of Islamic legal systems, while other religious influences in governance are tolerated or endorsed internationally.
Naija News reports that Sharia law operates in several northern states in Nigeria, primarily in matters concerning personal status, family law, and other civil issues affecting Muslims.
It exists alongside Nigeria’s conventional legal framework and is applicable only to adherents of Islam in those states.
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