….Court Convicts Three Over Removal Of 16-Year-Old Girl From Parents’ Custody, Sentences Them To 10, 14 Years
Daud Olatunji
A Borno State High Court judgment has contradicted the narrative circulating on social media and attributed to Arise TV that a Christian woman was jailed simply for converting a Muslim teenager to Christianity.
PLATFORM TIMES obtained a copy of the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment, which shows that the criminal proceedings centred on allegations that a 16-year-old girl was removed from her parents’ custody, taken from Maiduguri to Jos, Plateau State, and subsequently enrolled in a Bible school without her parents’ knowledge or consent.
The judgment, delivered by Justice A.B. Kumalia of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri Judicial Division, on May 5, 2026, followed the prosecution of five defendants over offences relating to conspiracy to abduct a child, enticing a minor away from parental custody, unlawful removal, deprivation of education and interference with the child’s right to practise her religion.
In a statement reacting to the controversy, the Foundation of Nupe Lawyers challenged what it described as the misrepresentation of the court’s decision, insisting that the conviction was not based simply on the teenager’s conversion to Christianity.
According to the foundation, three defendants were convicted and sentenced to 14, 14 and 10 years’ imprisonment, respectively, with the sentences ordered to run concurrently.
The other two defendants were discharged for lack of credible evidence.
The foundation maintained that the conviction rested on evidence concerning how the teenager was allegedly taken away from her parents, transported to another state and prevented from continuing her formal education.
The teenager, identified as Aisha Kabiru Saleh, testified during the trial that she was 13 years old and attending Junior Secondary School Three at Yerwa Government Girls’ Secondary School when the incident began.
She told the court that a teacher she knew as Uncle Sani regarded her as his best student and frequently bought things for her.
According to her testimony, the teacher eventually invited her to Ngumati Super Store, where he bought items for her before taking her to the residence of the second defendant, Binta Mamman Sasuwa.
She said she was subsequently taken to the residence of Esther Simon, where she spent the night before being taken to church the following Sunday.
Aisha told the court that she was given a Bible and later taken to Jos by the teacher and a pastor identified as Daniel.
She said she was enrolled at Ismail Haga Foundation, which she described as a Bible school for discipleship and training of new converts, where she spent one year.
She subsequently moved to Christian Faith Ministry for a diploma programme.
The teenager said she later fell ill, underwent surgery to remove her appendix and became homesick after being discharged from hospital.
She eventually contacted her mother, who arranged for her return to Maiduguri.
However, in another part of her testimony, Aisha narrated how she allegedly travelled to Jos again with assistance from the first defendant, Lami Samuel Dawa.
She told the court that Lami gave her a mobile phone and SIM card and instructed her to meet at Baga Road.
According to the teenager, Lami also provided clothes belonging to her daughter, which she used to change out of her school uniform at a chemist shop before embarking on the journey.
She alleged that Lami arranged a vehicle for her trip to Jos and gave her N3,000 for feeding.
Aisha further told the court that Lami later contacted her and instructed her to alight at Bauchi because the search for her had intensified.
She said she stayed with an unidentified man for three days before receiving another instruction to continue her journey after the search had reportedly subsided.
In its statement, the Foundation of Nupe Lawyers questioned why the teenager was allegedly directed to stop in Bauchi instead of being returned to her parents in Borno State after it became clear that her family was searching for her.
The foundation also challenged the portrayal of the case as one involving a woman punished for facilitating a voluntary religious conversion.
According to the statement, the court’s findings included evidence attributed to the first defendant’s own admissions concerning the teenager’s removal and movement away from her parents.
It argued that the central issue was the alleged involvement of the defendants in taking a minor away from lawful parental custody without the consent of her family.
The Foundation of Nupe Lawyers further stated that two of the five defendants were discharged because the evidence against them was not considered credible enough to sustain their prosecution.
It said three defendants were convicted and handed prison sentences of 14, 14 and 10 years, respectively, with the terms to run concurrently.
The distinction between those convicted and those discharged is significant in understanding the outcome of the trial, as the court’s decision was based on the evidence presented against the individual defendants.
The foundation also rejected attempts to portray the case as a Shariah prosecution, explaining that the proceedings took place before the regular High Court of Borno State under the state’s Penal Code Law 2023 and Child Protection Law 2021.
The charges included conspiracy to abduct a child under Section 60(2) of the Penal Code Law; enticing a child away from parental custody under Section 210; and abduction and removal of a child from lawful parental custody under Section 24(2)(11) of the Borno State Child Protection Law.
Other charges related to depriving a child of education under Section 26(2)(b), interfering with her right to practise her religion under Section 9 of the Child Protection Law 2021, and screening an offender under Section 131 of the Penal Code Law.
The foundation argued that the offences were matters of child protection and criminal law, insisting that no Shariah court tried the defendants.
It maintained that the religious identity of the defendants and the teenager should not be used to distort the actual issues determined by the court.
The Foundation of Nupe Lawyers also stressed that the convicted defendants retained their constitutional right to challenge the judgment through the appellate courts, including the Supreme Court.
It warned that inaccurate reporting of sensitive cases involving religion, minors and the criminal justice system could fuel religious tension and threaten peaceful coexistence.
The foundation urged Nigerians to examine the certified true copy of the judgment before accepting or circulating claims about the case.
It also called on media organisations to verify court records and distinguish between allegations, evidence, judicial findings and public interpretations before publishing reports on sensitive religious matters.
The foundation argued that presenting the case as the imprisonment of a Christian woman for simply converting a Muslim teenager could mislead the public about the offences for which the defendants were prosecuted.
The judgment, according to the foundation’s statement, should therefore be understood within the context of the allegations of removing a minor from parental custody, taking her away from her home state and interfering with her education.
'
'Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
'