By Ankeli Emmanuel, Sokoto
Worried by the prolonged contempt of court in the disturbing case of forced conversion and illegal custody of a 17 year old Christian teenager in Bauchi state, a
Jos-based law firm, Wholesome Attorneys, has
petition the Bauchi State Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) on the matter.
The law firm who wrote as representative of Mrs. Kumabe Zakari, mother of the teenage girl, Faith Barnabas, expressed deep frustration on why an order by the Federal High Court directing that the teenager be released to her mother still remained unimplemented.
The petition, dated July 9, 2026, addressed to the Bauchi Director of DSS urged the security agency to enforce the July 6 judgment of the Federal High Court, Jos Judicial Division, which ordered the immediate release of Miss Faith Barnabas to her widowed mother.
According to the law firm, the teenager was allegedly forcibly converted to Islam by one Sadiq Ahmed Hussaini with the active involvement of the Bauchi State Shari’ah Commission without the consent of her parent, contrary to Section 8 of the Bauchi State Child Protection Law, 2023, which recognizes the rights of parents over decisions concerning a minor’s religion and welfare.
The lawyers further alleged that, “Faith is being unlawfully held at the Bauchi State Orphans and Vulnerable Children Agency (BASOVCA), despite subsisting court orders directing that she be reunited with her family.
“Following the alleged conversion in April 2026, Mrs. Zakari initially regained custody of her daughter and relocated with her to Jos. However, on April 30, the Lawyers alleged that Sadiq Ahmed Hussaini tracked the teenager to Jos and abducted her to an undisclosed location” the petition stated
According to the petition, although the Bauchi State Police Command later located the suspect and recovered the teenager, the police allegedly transferred Faith to the custody of BASOVCA instead of releasing her to her mother.
The lawyers further alleged that while the suspect is standing trial before a Principal District Court in Bauchi on charges bordering on conspiracy and abduction, he was allegedly granted access to the teenager while her mother and relatives were denied similar access.
The Solicitors disclosed that after BASOVCA allegedly failed to comply with an interim order issued by the Principal District Court directing the release of Faith to her mother, they instituted a fundamental rights enforcement suit before the Federal High Court in Jos, which subsequently ordered the immediate release of the minor.
Expressing concern over what they described as a pattern of disobedience to court orders, the law firm appealed to the DSS to intervene by ensuring compliance with the Federal High Court judgment and facilitating the immediate reunification of Faith Barnabas with her mother, who they said has suffered severe emotional trauma since the incident.
Meanwhile, the petition has continued to generate widespread reactions, with the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN), Billiri Local Government Area Chapter in Gombe State, condemning what it described as the continued disregard for the authority of the court.
It will be recalled that a statement issued on August 2, 2026, and signed by Bauchi YOWICAN Chairman, Comrade Sarki P. Napthali, expressed grave concern over the continued detention of the 17-year-old Christian girl, describing the situation as a direct violation of the rule of law and an affront on the Nigerian judiciary.
The Christian youth body maintained that, “despite the judgment the Federal High Court delivered on July 6 ordering Faith’s immediate release to her mother, the Bauchi State Government and BASOVCA have failed to obey the court’s directive as of August 2.
“The continued custody of the minor violates provisions of the 1999 Constitution relating to personal liberty, family life and freedom of religion, as well as the Child Rights Act and the Bauchi State Child Protection Law, which recognize parental authority over a child’s welfare and religious upbringing,” YOWICAN argued.
The organization further cited international human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, all of which Nigeria has ratified.
Calling for immediate action, YOWICAN urged the Bauchi State Government and BASOVCA to comply fully with the Federal High Court judgment. They are also appealing to the Attorney General of the Federation, the Inspector General of Police and other security agencies to enforce the court order and ensure the safety of both the teenager and her mother.
The group also demanded that contempt proceedings be initiated against any public officials or institutions found to have deliberately disobeyed the court’s directive and called for the nullification of all documents allegedly used to change the teenager’s religion and name.
The development follows earlier reports highlighting the legal battle instituted by Mrs. Kumabe Zakari before the Federal High Court in Jos after alleging that her daughter disappeared in April 2026, was subsequently declared to have converted to Islam by the Bauchi State Shari’ah Commission and placed in the custody of BASOVCA instead of being returned to her family.
According to details contained in the fundamental rights suit, Mrs. Zakari is seeking the immediate release of her daughter from state custody, the nullification of documents relating to the alleged conversion, and damages for alleged violations of the teenager’s constitutional rights.
The suit also named the Bauchi State Government, the Attorney General, the Police Service Commission, the Commissioner of Police, BASOVCA, the Bauchi State Shari’ah Commission and Sadiq Ahmad Hassan among the respondents.
The matter has attracted growing national and international attention, with religious freedom advocates and civil society organisations describing the case as one that raises significant questions about the protection of children’s rights, parental authority, freedom of religion and adherence to court orders in Nigeria.
The allegations contained in the petition, court filings and public statements remain subject to judicial processes, while the respondents are entitled to present their own positions before the courts.
