The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has reaffirmed that it is wrong for Christians to be subjected to Sharia law or taken before a Sharia court.
He made the remarks on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at the opening of the 2025 triennial meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council in Abuja.
Speaking at the event themed “Collaboration of Inter-Religious Council with Government to Promote Peace in Nigeria”, the Sultan stressed that Sharia applies strictly to Muslims and should never be extended to non-Muslims. He added that Christians must not be compelled to adopt Islamic dress codes or prayer practices.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the Sultan described Nigeria as a multi-religious country, noting that the government has not adopted Islam or Christianity as a state religion but continues to support the growth of both.
He also dismissed recent calls for the abolition of Sharia, insisting that Nigeria allows the free practice of all religions without external interference.
The Sultan’s comments have sparked reactions, with some observers questioning the timing. Critics argue that he has remained silent on the matter for years and only spoke after recent concerns raised by the United States over religious freedoms in Nigeria.
Analysts say the debate highlights broader concerns about the coexistence of parallel legal systems. Apologist Evangelist Ibrahim Dikko noted that a constitutional state cannot operate with conflicting legal frameworks and maintained that any religious legal system must remain within the bounds of the constitution and open to public scrutiny.
