By Paul Joseph
A Borno State High Court has sentenced Christian mother Liyatu Samuel Dawa to 14 years’ imprisonment after she reportedly advised an adult Muslim woman who later converted to Christianity voluntarily, a ruling that has drawn criticism from religious freedom advocates.
The sentence was reportedly imposed by Justice A. B. Kumdila under Section 210 of the Penal Code Laws of Borno State, a provision relating to depriving a parent or guardian of the lawful custody of a child.
According to the account of the proceedings, the court handed Dawa the maximum punishment under the provision without offering her the option of a fine.
Dawa, who hails from Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, was said to have discussed Christianity with the adult woman, who subsequently embraced the faith.
During the proceedings, the woman reportedly testified that she converted of her own free will, insisting that nobody forced, induced or deceived her into changing her religion.
Despite the testimony, Dawa was convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison.
Before sentencing, Dawa pleaded with the court for leniency, maintaining that she had no intention of deceiving the woman.
“I am a mother. I did not intend to cheat the victim. I only advised her. That is all,” she reportedly told the court.
However, the judge rejected her plea.
Dawa’s husband, Evangelist Amos Suleman, was previously detained for several months in connection with the case before securing bail.
He is reportedly living in hiding after receiving death threats from local extremists in Gwoza. He has also said that he is unable to visit his wife, who is being held in custody in Maiduguri.
Suleman has appealed to international human rights organisations and religious freedom advocates to intervene in the case.
Rights Advocates Question Conviction
The judgment has drawn criticism from human rights lawyers and religious freedom advocates, who argue that the conviction raises serious questions about constitutional protections for freedom of religion in Nigeria.
They have cited Section 38 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including the right to change one’s religion or belief.
Legal analysts have also questioned how a provision concerning the lawful custody of a child could apply to a case involving a religious discussion between two adults, particularly when the woman reportedly testified that her conversion was voluntary.
Gavvs Katiya, chairman of the Gwoza Refugees Resettlement Initiative, reportedly criticised the ruling, saying it had “weaponized her Christian conviction” and imposed a punishment he considered disproportionate.
Advocates have called for the judgment to be reviewed and urged the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and other relevant organisations to support an appeal.
The case has attracted attention amid years of insurgency and displacement in Borno State, particularly in communities around Gwoza that have been affected by Boko Haram violence.
The area’s Christian population has reportedly experienced significant displacement since the insurgency escalated in 2009.
Dawa’s conviction and sentence have renewed concerns among religious freedom advocates about the protection of constitutional rights and the application of criminal laws in cases involving religious conversion.
However, the full court judgment, detailed charges and prosecution’s arguments were not included in the account available for this report.
Leave a Reply