CAN raises concerns over Borno woman’s 14-year jail term

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.

CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, made the position known in a statement issued on Saturday, while disclosing that an appeal had been filed against the conviction.

The association said it 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 to choose and practise their religion.

“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.

CAN said every individual should be free to choose, change or practise their religion without coercion, intimidation or unlawful punishment.

“CAN therefore calls 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.

“CAN remains committed to the peaceful coexistence of Nigerians of all religious backgrounds and to the protection of the fundamental rights and freedoms of every citizen,” the statement added.

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

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The PUNCH had earlier reported that Dawa was sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment by a Borno State High Court in a judgment dated May 5, 2026.

The Chairman of the Maiduguri branch of the Christian Lawyers Fellowship of Nigeria, Ephraim Yidawi, had cautioned against portraying the case as one in which Dawa was convicted simply for 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 also confirmed that an appeal had been initiated against the judgment.

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria had similarly urged Christians to exercise restraint and avoid drawing conclusions without examining the court proceedings.

CAN reiterated its commitment to peaceful coexistence among Nigerians of different religious backgrounds, stressing the need to protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of every citizen.