The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has called on the Nigerian Government to urgently implement a recent ECOWAS Court judgment that declared aspects of Kano State’s blasphemy laws a violation of Nigeria’s human rights obligations.
The rights organisation warned that failure to comply with the April 9, 2025 ruling would undermine the rule of law and damage Nigeria’s reputation in protecting citizens’ fundamental rights.
The ECOWAS Court of Justice had ruled unanimously that blasphemy provisions in the Kano State Penal Code and its Sharia Penal Code Law of 2000 violate key human rights guarantees, particularly the right to freedom of expression.
The judgment was delivered in a suit filed by Expression Now Human Rights Initiative, a human rights organisation challenging the blasphemy laws.
The court held that the laws contravene the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both of which Nigeria is signatory.
The court also ordered the Federal Government to ensure the repeal or amendment of blasphemy provisions in Kano State’s laws and similar provisions in other states, as they are incompatible with Nigeria’s international obligations.
Mr. Monday Arunsi, Acting Head of MRA’s Legal Department, said the organisation fully agreed with the court’s judgment noting that capital punishment is typically reserved for serious crimes like murder, terrorism or genocide where there is a clear victim who has suffered grave harm, not speech or disrespect.
He added that the court believed there are less restrictive ways for the state to limit freedom of expression while ensuring respect for religious beliefs and preserving public peace.
Arunsi emphasised that Nigeria cannot selectively choose which international obligations to respect, describing the ECOWAS Court judgment as binding on the country.
“The Federal Government has a legal and moral duty to comply with it and ensure that the provisions of all federal and state laws are consistent with the regional and international instruments to which it is a State Party,” he said.
The MRA official added that the court’s decision reinforces longstanding concerns by human rights advocates that certain provisions of Kano State’s Sharia Penal Code and similar laws in other states are inconsistent with international human rights standards.
He particularly highlighted concerns about provisions criminalising blasphemy and prescribing harsh punishments such as the death penalty.
Arunsi called on the Federal Government to demonstrate leadership by immediately engaging with Kano State and other states with similar laws to ensure comprehensive review and reform of such legislation.
He stressed that the reforms should include amendment or repeal of all provisions that violate the right to freedom of expression while preserving freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.
“Respect for the rule of law and for the decisions of competent international courts is fundamental to the protection of human rights, the promotion of justice, and the preservation of Nigeria’s standing in the international community,” Arunsi said.
MRA urged the National Assembly, the National Human Rights Commission, and other relevant institutions to ensure Nigeria’s legal framework fully aligns with its commitments under regional and international human rights treaties