NSCEA Demands Legal Review of Reported 14-Year Sentence Against Liyatu Dawa

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Ecclesiastical Affairs (NSCEA), a body committed to ecclesiastical responsibility, religious liberty, peacebuilding, human dignity and the protection of fundamental rights, expresses deep concern and unequivocal opposition to any unlawful deprivation of liberty on account of religious belief, peaceful religious expression or voluntary conversion.

The Council is gravely concerned by reports that Liyatu Samuel Dawa, a Christian woman in Borno State, Nigeria, has been sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment over allegations reportedly connected with sharing the Christian faith with another adult woman.

NSCEA considers the reported circumstances sufficiently serious to warrant urgent examination by the appropriate judicial and human rights authorities. The Council therefore calls for a transparent review of the case, access to the relevant court records, and the protection of every constitutional right applicable to the accused and all other persons involved.

The Council also commends the Council of American Peace Advocates (CAPA), under the leadership of Professor Wanda Page, for raising concerns about the reported sentence and calling attention to the importance of religious freedom, due process and constitutional accountability.

As an ecclesiastical body, NSCEA recognises that silence in the face of credible concerns about fundamental rights would be inconsistent with the moral responsibility of religious institutions to advocate justice, defend human dignity and promote peaceful coexistence.

Nevertheless, the Council makes clear that its position is founded on constitutional principles and the rule of law, not hostility towards any religion, community, court or individual.

The Church Cannot Be Silent When Religious Liberty Is at Stake

NSCEA declares that religious freedom is a fundamental human right and must never be treated as a privilege available only at the discretion of the state or any religious authority.

The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, guarantees freedom of thought, conscience and religion under Section 38(1), including the freedom to change one’s religion or belief. Section 39 protects freedom of expression, Section 36 provides safeguards for fair hearing, and Section 42 prohibits specified forms of discrimination, including discrimination on grounds of religion.

These guarantees constitute essential safeguards for a pluralistic society in which citizens of different religious convictions are entitled to equal protection under the law.

The Council acknowledges that the exercise of fundamental rights operates within the constitutional framework and does not provide immunity from valid criminal laws. However, any prosecution must be founded on a legally established offence, supported by admissible evidence and conducted in accordance with constitutional safeguards.

No person should be criminally punished merely because another person dislikes their religion, rejects their beliefs or disapproves of a peaceful change of faith.

NSCEA insists that freedom of conscience must be protected for Christians, Muslims and all other Nigerians without discrimination.

A Serious Call for Clarification of the Dawa Case

According to CAPA’s statement of 19 October 2026, Dawa was reportedly prosecuted under Section 210 of the Borno State Penal Code, described in the circulating account as relating to interference with lawful parental custody.

The account further alleges that the adult woman who reportedly embraced Christianity testified that her decision was voluntary and without coercion, deception or inducement.

NSCEA has not independently obtained the certified judgment or complete court proceedings. Accordingly, the Council does not claim to have verified the precise charges, the evidence before the court or the reasoning underlying the reported sentence.

However, these reported circumstances raise serious questions requiring timely clarification.

The relevant authorities should establish the precise legal basis of the conviction, whether the elements of the alleged offence were proved, whether the proceedings satisfied the requirements of fair hearing, and whether the constitutional protections relating to religion and expression were properly considered.

NSCEA recognises that a proper assessment of the case requires consideration of the court’s findings, the prosecution’s case and the applicable law. Any assessment of the court’s decision should be based on the full record rather than incomplete or unverified accounts.

If a competent court determines that the conviction or sentence is legally defective or constitutionally impermissible, appropriate judicial relief must follow in accordance with the law.

The Council stresses that respect for the judiciary does not require silence about possible legal errors. Rather, genuine respect for the administration of justice requires that concerns be addressed through lawful and effective procedures.

NSCEA’s Ecclesiastical Demands to the Nigerian Authorities

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Ecclesiastical Affairs calls on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR; the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice; the Governor of Borno State; the relevant judicial authorities; the National Human Rights Commission; and other competent institutions to respond within their respective constitutional and statutory responsibilities.

The Council demands the following:

1. Urgent Legal Scrutiny

The reported judgment, charges, evidence and applicable statutory provisions should be examined through appropriate legal channels to determine whether the conviction and sentence comply with the law and the Constitution.

2. Access to Legal Representation

Liyatu Samuel Dawa should have access to competent legal representation and be able to pursue all available appellate remedies without unlawful obstruction.

3. Fair Consideration of Interim Relief

Any lawful application for bail or other interim relief pending appeal should receive fair and timely consideration by the competent court.

4. Protection of Religious Freedom

The authorities must ensure that peaceful religious expression or voluntary religious conversion is not treated as a criminal offence in itself.

5. Remedial Justice Where Warranted

Should the competent judicial authorities find that the conviction or sentence violates applicable law or constitutional guarantees, the appropriate remedy should be provided promptly.

6. Protection of All Persons Involved

The accused, the woman reported to have changed her faith, their families and witnesses must be protected from threats, intimidation, harassment and retaliation.

These are lawful demands for accountability, not a call for political interference in judicial proceedings. NSCEA recognises the independence of the judiciary and insists that the case be addressed through due process.

An Ecclesiastical Warning Against Selective Religious Freedom

The Council warns that religious liberty loses its meaning when it is defended for one community but denied to another.

Christian freedom cannot be secured by denying Muslim freedom. Muslim freedom cannot be secured by denying Christian freedom. The rights of every Nigerian must be protected according to the same constitutional standards.

NSCEA therefore rejects religious hostility, collective blame and inflammatory rhetoric. It calls on Christian and Muslim leaders, traditional institutions, civil society organisations and public authorities to approach this matter with seriousness, restraint and respect for human dignity.

At the same time, the Council will not trivialise credible concerns about a reported sentence that could deprive an individual of 14 years of liberty.

Fourteen years in prison is an exceptionally grave deprivation of freedom. The legal foundation for such a sentence must be clear, defensible and consistent with the law.

The Council urges all relevant institutions to ensure that the facts are established and that any violation of constitutional rights is addressed through appropriate legal remedies.

Our Message to the Christian Community and the Nigerian Nation

NSCEA calls on the Christian community to remain steadfast in peaceful advocacy, prayer, responsible public engagement and lawful pursuit of justice.

We urge church leaders not to allow frustration or apprehension to become hostility towards another faith. Our responsibility is to defend religious liberty while upholding the same dignity and rights that we seek for ourselves.

We equally call upon public authorities to recognise that religious harmony cannot be sustained by suppressing legitimate questions about fundamental rights. It is sustained by fairness, transparency, impartial justice and the confidence that every citizen is protected by the law.

The Nigerian Constitution must remain the common legal foundation of our national coexistence.

Where the rights of a Christian are threatened, the constitutional principles protecting that Christian must be upheld. Where the rights of a Muslim or any other citizen are threatened, those same principles must apply.

This is not merely a religious position. It is a question of justice, citizenship and the rule of law.

Final Ecclesiastical Declaration: Justice Must Prevail

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Ecclesiastical Affairs reiterates its serious concern over the reported 14-year sentence against Liyatu Samuel Dawa and calls for urgent, transparent and constitutionally grounded review.

We commend CAPA for raising the matter and urge the relevant Nigerian authorities to ensure that the facts are established, legal remedies remain accessible and the rights of all persons involved are protected.

The Council will continue to advocate religious liberty, peaceful coexistence, justice and respect for human dignity without discrimination.

Our position is clear: no one should be unlawfully imprisoned for the peaceful exercise of religious freedom. No conviction should be shielded from lawful scrutiny. No citizen should be denied justice because of religious identity.

Let the judgment be examined. Let the law speak. Let due process prevail. Let the rights of every person be protected.

Justice for Liyatu Samuel Dawa.

Religious Freedom for All.

Constitutional Supremacy Without Exception.

The Church for Justice, the Nation for Peace, and the Law for All.

Issued by:

Bishop Professor Alubi Worusa
Senior Executive
Nigerian Supreme Council for Ecclesiastical Affairs (NSCEA)

Date: 19 October 2026

Ecclesiastical Responsibility • Religious Liberty • Constitutional Justice • Peaceful Coexistence • Human Dignity