Alleged Forced Conversion: Widow Takes Bauchi Govt, Shari’ah Commission to Court

A Jos-based Christian widow, Mrs Kumabe Zakari, has instituted a fundamental rights suit against the Bauchi State Government and six other respondents over the alleged abduction, forced conversion and continued detention of her 17-year-old daughter, Faith Barnabas.

The suit, filed at the Federal High Court in Jos on June 29, 2026, seeks the immediate release of the teenager and N150 million in damages over alleged violations of her fundamental rights.

The respondents include the Bauchi State Government, Bauchi State Shari’ah Commission, Police Service Commission, Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State Command, Attorney-General of Bauchi State, Sadiq Ahmad Hassan and the Bauchi State Orphans and Vulnerable Children Agency (BASOVCA).

According to an affidavit filed in support of the case, Faith, who was born on May 31, 2009, allegedly went missing from her grandmother’s residence in Bauchi in April 2026, shortly after sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Mrs Zakari alleged that Hassan, whom she described as her daughter’s alleged boyfriend, had been attempting to lure the teenager away for several years.

She claimed that Faith was eventually taken away from Jos on April 30 and moved to an undisclosed location.

The applicant further alleged that police subsequently arrested Hassan, who allegedly disclosed where the teenager was being kept.

Mrs Zakari also alleged that her mother received a letter from the Bauchi State Shari’ah Commission stating that Faith had converted to Islam and had adopted the name Sa’adatu.

The mother is challenging the alleged conversion, arguing that Faith, being 17 years old, remains a minor and that her freedom of religion should be exercised under parental guidance.

The claims contained in the suit are allegations and remain subject to determination by the court.

The applicant further told the court that the Principal District Court, Bauchi, issued an interim order on May 20, 2026, directing that Faith be released to her.

According to the suit, however, BASOVCA has allegedly failed to comply with the order and has denied the mother access to her daughter.

Mrs Zakari also alleged that Hassan has been allowed access to the teenager.

She is asking the Federal High Court to order BASOVCA to immediately release Faith into her custody.

Among the 13 reliefs sought by the applicant are declarations that the alleged actions of the respondents violate provisions of Sections 35, 37, 38 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution, relating to personal liberty, privacy, freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and freedom of movement.

She is also seeking an injunction restraining the respondents, particularly the Shari’ah Commission, from further inviting or questioning her over the alleged conversion of her daughter.

In the alternative, she is seeking N50 million in damages against the Police Service Commission and a further N100 million jointly and severally against several of the respondents as general and exemplary damages.

Counsel to Mrs Zakari, Wholesome Attorneys, argued that Faith remains a child under the Bauchi State Child Protection Law 2023.

The lawyers cited Section 8 of the law, which provides for parental or legal-guardian guidance in the exercise of a child’s rights to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

They also relied on previous judicial decisions, including Incorporated Trustees of the Christian Association of Nigeria v. Kwara State Government (2020) on freedom of religion and Jim-Jaja v. Commissioner of Police, Rivers State (2013) on compensation for violations of fundamental rights.

The lawyers argued that urgent intervention was necessary, alleging that continued detention could expose the teenager to psychological harm and further violations of her rights.

The matter was listed for hearing on July 15, 2026.