Fact Check: Liyatu Dawa’s 14-Year Prison Sentence — Is It True?

Yes, it is true. A Borno State High Court in Nigeria sentenced Liyatu Samuel Dawa to 14 years in prison without the option of a fine.

Case Details

• The Charge: The prosecution charged Dawa under Section 210 of the Penal Code Laws of Borno State, which deals with depriving a parent of the lawful custody of a child.

• The Context: Reports indicate the case stems from Dawa sharing her Christian faith with an adult Muslim woman from the Gwoza area who subsequently converted.

• The Trial: During the proceedings, the woman who converted testified that she did so entirely of her own free will without any coercion. Despite this testimony, Justice A. B. Kumdila rejected Dawa’s plea for leniency and handed down the maximum statutory penalty of 14 years.

• Current Status: Legal advocates and human rights organizations are currently tracking the case and preparing an appeal to the Court of Appeal (Jos Division), arguing that the custody statute was completely misapplied to an interaction involving consenting adults.

If you would like, I can look into updates on her appeal process or provide more context on how religious freedom cases are handled in northern Nigeria. Let me know how you want to proceed.

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