Leading Christian bodies, including the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and the Christian Lawyers Fellowship of Nigeria (CLASFON), have called for public restraint following the conviction of Mrs. Lami Samuel Dawa, who was sentenced to 14 years in prison by a Borno State High Court.
Justice A. B. Kumdila handed down the sentence under Section 210 of the state’s Penal Code. Dawa was one of five defendants tried in the case, while the other four were discharged and acquitted. The case previously sparked widespread social media debate after initial reports erroneously claimed she was imprisoned solely for preaching to a Muslim girl.
Key Highlights of the Case:
- The Five Charges: Legal representatives from CLASFON clarified that the defendants faced a five-count charge sheet: conspiracy to abduct a child; enticing or inducing a child to leave parental custody; removing a child from the lawful custody of her parents; depriving the child of access to education; and interfering with the child’s religious practice and conversion to Christianity.
- The Conviction Basis: Clarifying the outcome, defense counsel noted that Dawa was specifically convicted on the charge of depriving a parent of the lawful custody of a child, rather than for the act of preaching alone.
- Legal Appeal: The PFN and CLASFON confirmed that an appeal has already been filed at the appellate court, urging the public to avoid premature judgments while the legal process runs its course.
You must be logged in to post a comment.