ABSTRACT

This study examined the “Administration of Islamic Law in the Sharia Court of Appeal in Gwagwalada Area Council, FCT”. A survey research design was adopted for the study. One hundred (100) respondents were randomly selected from eight departments of the Gwagwalada Area Council Secretariat, FCT. The main instrument used for this study was questionnaire and the data collected were analyzed using frequency counts and percentage. The findings from the study revealed that the sharia court of appeal is seen as a religious court which has over the years influenced its fortunes. Also, the poor knowledge of the masses on the content of the sharia law has further restricted their approach to sharia court of appeal for judgement. Furthermore, scholars who should uphold the laws are basically terminating God’s will through the administration of selective judgement and interpretation of the laws in ignorance and prejudice. It was therefore recommended that islam needed to reform its laws in line with the modern needs in the same line with need for legal reform. Conclusively, experts, scholars and judges should create forum by way of seminar, conference, open awareness and other positive approach to be implemented in sensitizing the masses on the need for and the benefit of the shariah court of appeal.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE-      -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        i – ii

DEDICATION     -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        iii

DECLARATION-          -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        iv

CERTIFICATION -       -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        v

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS-    -        -        -        -        -        -        -        vi

TABLE OF CONTENTS -      -        -        -        -        -        -        -        vii

ABSTRACT-       -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        - ix

CHAPTER ONE

1.0     INTRODUCTION -     -        -        -        -        -        -        -        1

1.1     Background of the Study        -       -        -        -        -        -        -        1
1.2     Statement of the Problem -      -        -        -        -        -        -        3

1.3     Purpose of the study -   -        -        -        -        -        -        -        4

1.4     Research Questions -     -        -        -        -        -        -        -        4

1.5     Significance of the Study -       -        -        -        -        -        -        5

1.6     Scope and Delimitation of the Study-         -        -        -        -        -        6

1.7     Operational Definition of Terms -     -        -        -        -        -        7

CHAPTER TWO

2.0     REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE -      -        -        -        8       

2.1     Introduction -       -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        8

2.2     Brief Historical Background of Islamic Law in Nigeria -         -        -        12

2.3     The Quran as the primary source of law -  -        -        -        -        15

2.4     The Administration of Islamic Law in Nigeria-    -        -        -        18

2.5     The Sharia Court of Appeal FCT -   -        -        -        -        -        32

CHAPTER THREE

3.0     METHODOLOGY-     -        -        -        -        -        -        -        39

3.1    Introduction -       -        -        -        -        -        --       -        -        39

3.2    Research Design   -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        39

3.3     Population of the Study -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        40

3.4     Sample Size and Sampling Procedure -               -        -        -        40

3.5    Instrumentation -  -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        41     

3.6     Validity and Reliability of Instrument -     -        -        -        -        41

3.7    Method of Data Collection       -        -        -        -        -        -        41

3.8     Method of Data Analysis        -       -        -        -        -        -        -        42

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION -       43
4.1     Introduction -       -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        43

4.2     Presentation/Analysis of Personal Data -   -        -        -        -        43

4.3     Presentation/Analysis of Non Personal Data -     -        -        -        47

4.4     Discussion of the Findings -    -        -        -        -        -        -        45

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0     CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION           -        -        -        57

5.1     Conclusion  -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        57

5.2     Recommendation -         -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        58

Bibliography        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        60

Appendix  -          -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        63