The conviction of a Christian woman, Mrs Lami Samuel Dawa, who was sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment by a Borno State High Court, has sparked controversy, with Christian organisations urging caution over claims that she was jailed for preaching Christianity to a Muslim girl.
The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and the Christian Lawyers Fellowship of Nigeria (CLASFON) have appealed to Nigerians, particularly Christians, to establish the full circumstances surrounding the case before drawing conclusions.
OrijoReporter obtained the report from Saturday PUNCH, which quoted the two organisations as warning against the spread of unverified information about the conviction.
Dawa was sentenced on May 5, 2026, by Justice A. B. Kumdila of the Borno State High Court under Section 210 of the state’s Penal Code.
The conviction generated reactions on social media, with some Christians describing it as religious persecution and alleging that Dawa was jailed for preaching to a Muslim girl who reportedly converted to Christianity.
However, CLASFON’s Maiduguri Branch Chairman, Ephraim Yidawi, said the case involved allegations beyond preaching or religious conversion.
Yidawi disclosed that the Christian lawyers represented Dawa and four other defendants during the trial.
He said while Dawa was convicted, the other four defendants were discharged and acquitted.
According to him, the defendants faced allegations bordering on conspiracy to abduct a child, enticing or inducing a child to leave parental custody, removing a child from the lawful custody of her parents, depriving the child of access to education and interfering with the child’s religious practice and conversion to Christianity.
Yidawi cautioned against reducing the case to claims that Dawa was convicted simply for preaching to a girl or converting her to Christianity.
The judgment, dated May 5, 2026, reportedly sentenced Dawa to 14 years in prison for depriving a parent of the lawful custody of his child.
Yidawi said an appeal had been initiated against the judgment, adding that the legal team was pursuing appropriate appellate remedies.
Also speaking, PFN National Secretary, Bishop David Bakare, confirmed that the fellowship had been informed about the case but said its investigations showed that the circumstances were not exactly as presented in the public domain.
He urged those commenting on the matter to investigate the court proceedings before making public statements.
“PFN has been informed about the case, but our investigation shows that the case is not exactly as it is in the public domain, and I will advise that those commenting on the case should do a detailed investigation,” Bakare said.
He added: “We are being careful; we don’t want to pursue a case just anyhow. We don’t want to be ridiculed as uninformed people.”
Bakare said the fellowship was monitoring the case and was pleased that an appeal had been initiated.
“We are happy that the case is in the appeal court and we are monitoring what is happening. But in the interim, there is a need to tread softly and carefully on the matter,” he said.
The case has also raised questions about religious freedom and parental rights, particularly Section 38 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including the right to change one’s religion or belief.
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