Constitutional lawyer and public affairs analyst, Barrister Buhari Yusuf, has raised concerns over international pressure on Nigeria regarding the enforcement of Sharia law in the country’s northern states.
In an interview with TrustTV from 16:06 News on Sunday, December 7, 2025, Yusuf criticized efforts by the United States to influence domestic legal and religious practices, describing Sharia law as a no-go area for external dictation.
He argued that while foreign governments may set expectations, the adoption and practice of Sharia remain matters firmly within Nigeria’s constitutional and cultural framework.
“We acted in panic, more than eight states have been designated they refused to make it a news. But Nigerians all of a sudden were sending this, sending that. Therefore, they (United States) are now dictating for us and are now dictating an impossibility. They can dictate anything they want, but the issue of Sharia is a no go area,” Yusuf said.
Yusuf’s comments come against the backdrop of renewed U.S. congressional action urging the Nigerian government to abolish Sharia criminal law in twelve northern states and disband the Hisbah religious enforcement commissions.
The CPC status of Nigeria, supported by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), highlighted the systematic targeting of Christian communities, mass killings, and the restrictive application of blasphemy laws in several states, which limit freedom of worship for both Muslims and Christians.
In response to the CPC designation, President Donald Trump issued a warning of potential military action against Nigeria, including halting U.S. aid and deploying troops or airstrikes if the federal government failed to take immediate steps to halt violence.
During a joint briefing by the U.S. House of Representatives, Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow Dr. Ebenezer Obadare, emphasized that extremist groups such as Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and radicalized Fulani militants, exploit Sharia frameworks to enforce ideological compliance, impose forced conversions, and operate with near
He outlined strategies for addressing the crisis, emphasizing cooperation with the Nigerian military to neutralize Boko Haram and urging pressure on President Bola Tinubu to nullify Sharia law and disband Hisbah groups.
However, Yusuf stressed that such foreign pressures, while influential, cannot override Nigeria’s domestic legal and religious autonomy. View, More,
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