In a recent post on his official X account, former Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission Chairman, Sam Amadi, criticised how the introduction of Sharia law was handled during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.
Amadi stated:
“OBJ’s biggest leadership error was not to challenge Zamfara State on the unconstitutional declaration of criminal Sharia in 2000. Olisa Agbakoba and I went to court to challenge the action without federal support. You cannot have a state in Nigeria enforce religious crimes. No.”
He argued that one of Obasanjo’s major missteps was failing to confront Zamfara State when it introduced criminal Sharia in 2000, noting that the move was unconstitutional and should have been firmly addressed by the Federal Government.
According to Amadi, allowing the state to implement such laws without a strong federal response set a dangerous precedent. He emphasized that under Nigeria’s Constitution, no state has the authority to criminalize religious practices as part of its legal system.
Amadi also revealed that he and human rights lawyer Olisa Agbakoba took the matter to court to contest the Sharia implementation, doing so without backing from the Federal Government. He suggested that more decisive intervention from the center at the time could have clarified constitutional limits and prevented confusion over state powers……See More
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