The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has expressed concern over the 14-year prison sentence imposed on a Christian woman by a Borno State High Court in a case connected to the conversion of a Muslim woman to Christianity.
CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, disclosed on Saturday, October 31, that an appeal had been filed against the conviction of the woman identified in Nigerian media reports as Lami Samuel Dawa.
In a statement, Okoh said the case raised important questions about religious freedom and the protection of fundamental rights guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution. He said the association would monitor the proceedings and engage relevant authorities through appropriate legal and institutional channels.
CAN also called on the authorities to protect the rights of everyone involved and ensure that the matter was handled in accordance with the Constitution and applicable laws.
The development has attracted attention because of the reported circumstances surrounding the conversion, the statutory provision under which Dawa was convicted and the length of the sentence.
However, accounts of the proceedings have highlighted a difference between the religious-conversion controversy and the specific criminal allegations considered by the trial court.
The Christian Lawyers Fellowship of Nigeria (CLASFON), whose members represented Dawa and four other defendants during the trial, has cautioned against portraying the conviction as a straightforward case of a woman being imprisoned simply for preaching Christianity.
Ephraim Yidawi, chairman of CLASFON’s Maiduguri branch, said the defendants faced allegations involving conspiracy to abduct a child, inducing a child to leave parental custody, removing the child from the lawful custody of her parents, depriving the child of access to education and interfering with her religious practice and conversion.
According to Yidawi, Dawa was convicted while the four other defendants were discharged and acquitted.
He said the defence had initiated an appeal and urged members of the public, particularly Christians, to avoid circulating accounts that did not accurately reflect the charges and proceedings.
The judgment was delivered on May 5, 2026, by Justice A. B. Kumdila of the Borno State High Court. Dawa was convicted under Section 210 of the Borno State Penal Code, which concerns depriving a parent or guardian of the lawful custody of a child.
As of the latest reports, there has been no detailed public explanation from the state government setting out the prosecution’s case or the court’s reasoning.
Meanwhile, a legal legal clarification on Mrs. Lami Samuel Dawa’s Case was issued by a group of Christian Lawyers in Borno State. It reads:
“A clarification has been issued regarding the widely discussed case of Mrs. Lami Samuel Dawa, a Christian mother from the Gwoza area of Borno State who was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment.
“Name Correction:
Her correct name is Lami Samuel Dawa. “Liyatu” is the name of her elder sister. Earlier reports used the wrong name.
“Mrs. Dawa was convicted under Section 210 of the Penal Code Laws of Borno State. While public discussion has largely focused on the claim that she was sentenced simply for sharing her Christian faith with an adult Muslim woman who later converted, the formal charges presented in court related to allegations of conspiracy to abduct a child, enticing or inducing a child to leave parental custody, removing a child from lawful custody, depriving the child of education, and interference with the child’s religious practice.
“Four other defendants in the same case were discharged and acquitted.
“Legal Clarification from Christian Lawyers Fellowship (Borno State Chapter): In a statement, the Christian Lawyers Fellowship of Borno State acknowledged the deep concern within the Christian community but urged calm, restraint, and responsible engagement. The statement emphasised the following key points:
1. An appeal against the judgment has already been initiated.
2. The legal team is pursuing the appropriate appellate remedies.
3. Public discussion should carefully distinguish between the charges filed, the evidence presented, the trial court’s findings, and the legal grounds available for appeal.
4. The existence of a charge does not automatically establish guilt, and the full court record must be examined rather than relying on social media fragments.
5. The Christian community is encouraged to support the legal process, avoid inflammatory or unverified statements, and seek clarification from credible sources.
“The lawyers stressed that the immediate priority is to allow the appellate process to take its proper course in accordance with the law.
“Mrs. Lami Samuel Dawa remains in custody. Her legal team continues to pursue the appeal. The Christian Lawyers Fellowship has called on leaders, youth, and the wider Christian population to remain united, prayerful, and legally grounded in their response.”
There was also a call for Christians to intensify prayets for Lami Samuel Dawa and all Christian workers in Borno state.