Sharia law is the law that guides Moslems.
It has moral insight into the teaching of Islam, and the acts of the prophet and the Quaran.
In Nigeria, Sharia law is operational in six northern states, namely: Zamfara, Sokoto, Kano, Katsina, Bornu and Yobe state respectively.
There are basically three courts through which the judicial system under Sharia law is administered.
These courts are:

• Area court
These are found mainly in the community and are always headed by an Alkali, who is the chief enforcer of the Sharia law.

• Upper Area courts
When legal issues cannot be settled at the Area courts, the matter is forwarded to the Upper Area court.
This is the second highest court.

• Sharia Courts of Appeal
This is the highest body in states that fall under the Sharia law.
Whatever decision they take in any dispute is final, and cannot be disputed.
Women under these laws have separate code entirely different from men.
There are two categories of women- married and unmarried.
For unmarried women, one of the codes she is expected to obey is that she must be under the care of her parents until she is married.
Secondly, her dress code must be modest.
For the married women, the law says she must take permission from her husband in whatever she does.
Secondly, her dress code must be modest and she has an option of wearing Burqa to cover her entire body including her face.
Anyone who disobeys the law through committing an act of fornication is given 80 lashes of stroke, while anyone caught in Adultery is given death sentence.
This aspect of the Sharia law has not been fully implemented in the states where it is being practiced.

What then are the benefits of the Sharia legal system?

• if you are rich as a Moslem, you are expected to give 10% of your wealth to the poor and needy.
  This is known as "Zakat"
• it renders instant justice to the poor and rich including those who are oppressed
• it can also favor Christians who are unjustly treated, as they will have access to justice
• it has moral codes that makes you to dress decently

In Nigeria, the full implementation of the law cannot be said to be absolute, as some aspect are still silent while others are implemented.
It is however worthy of note, that Zamfara state was the first state in Nigeria to implement the criminal code under the law.