CAN RAISES CONCERNS OVER BORNO WOMAN’S 14-YEAR JAIL TERM, FILES APPEAL

The Christian Association of Nigeria has raised concerns over the 14-year imprisonment of a Christian woman, Lami Samuel Dawa, in Borno State, saying the case raises questions about religious freedom and the protection of fundamental rights.

The CAN intervention was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday by CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, who confirmed that an appeal had been filed against the conviction, ValidViewNetwork reports.

THE CONVICTION

Dawa was sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment by a Borno State High Court in a judgment dated May 5, 2026.

The case has drawn significant attention, with CAN describing it as one that touches on the constitutional rights of Nigerians to choose and practise their religion.

According to the Chairman of the Maiduguri branch of the Christian Lawyers Fellowship of Nigeria, Ephraim Yidawi, the case was more complex than simply preaching to a girl or converting her to Christianity.

Yidawi, whose organisation represented Dawa and four other defendants during the trial, said the allegations included conspiracy to abduct a child, enticing a child to leave parental custody, removing the child from her parents’ lawful custody, depriving her of access to education and interfering with her religious practice and conversion.

He said the court convicted Dawa on the charge of depriving a parent of the lawful custody of his child, while the other four defendants were discharged and acquitted.

The Christian Lawyers Fellowship confirmed that an appeal had been initiated against the judgment.

CAN’S POSITION

Archbishop Okoh said the association was committed to allowing the judicial process to run its course but maintained that the case raised important questions about the constitutional rights of Nigerians.

ADVERTISEMENT

“The case raises important questions about the protection of religious freedom and the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the association said. “Every individual should be free to choose, change or practise their religion without coercion, intimidation or unlawful punishment.”

CAN called on the relevant authorities to ensure that the rights of all parties are protected and that justice is served in accordance with the Constitution and the law.

It also pledged to monitor developments and engage the relevant authorities through appropriate legal and institutional channels.

WHY IT MATTERS

The case of Lami Samuel Dawa is a stark reminder of the tensions that can arise when religious freedom intersects with parental rights and child welfare.

CAN’s intervention is significant. It signals that the Christian body is watching the case closely and is prepared to pursue legal remedies.

The fact that an appeal has already been filed suggests that the matter will be contested at a higher level.

For Dawa, the 14-year sentence is a life-altering punishment.

For CAN, it is a test of whether Nigeria’s constitutional guarantees of religious freedom are upheld in practice.

For the nation, it is another reminder that the balance between faith, law and family is one of the most delicate challenges in a plural society.

The appeal has been filed. The judicial process continues. And the question of whether Dawa’s conviction will stand remains unanswered. ValidViewNetwork reports.