Eight northern states, however, decided to implement Islamic or Sharia penal law as well, which many Nigerians consider unconstitutional. Sharia permits flogging, amputation and beheading for certain crimes. Lawsuits challenging the legality of Sharia have been filed in federal court in Lagos and in Zamfara state court. The NCS is composed of the president, vice president, all 36 state governors and former heads of state. Two former Muslim heads of states contend that the NSC did not suspend Sharia, although some Muslim governors told reporters after the meeting that they had agreed not to implement Islamic law.
Federal officials insist that the council did suspend Sharia law.
Niger state has suspended the adoption of Sharia in compliance with the Tuesday agreement. Zamfara state, the first to introduce Islamic law, now says it will proceed as planned originally. In Nigeria, the freedom of movement and of choice are protected by the constitution. Already many Christian non-indigenes are moving back to their states of origin in the south to avoid being attacked by Islamic militants. Kano, the economic capital of northern Nigeria has a history of religious riots, with Christians usually the victims.