THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN RELIGIOUS NORMS AND SECULAR LAW: A STUDY OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS AND THE 1999 CONSTITUTION OF NIGERIA

Abstract

The interplay between religion and law remains one of the most contested questions in constitutional democracies, particularly in plural societies such as Nigeria. While the The Ten Commandments represent a significant moral and religious framework within the Judeo-Christian tradition, but the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria defines a secular state based on constitutional primacy, equality, and religious freedom. This term paper rigorously analyzes the degree to which the ethical directives of the Ten Commandments align with, impact, or contradict Nigeria's secular legal framework. It contends that while several commandments have been secularized into generally applicable legal standards, like as bans on murder, theft, and perjury, others remain strictly theological and constitutionally unenforceable in a secular society. Using the doctrinal methodology and comparative constitutional theory, the term paper finds that the Constitution permits moral inspiration from religion but prohibits state enforcement of sectarian doctrine. It concludes and recommends that constitutional supremacy, religious neutrality and fundamental rights must remain the controlling principles in regulating the interface between religious morality and public law.