Lawyers write DSS alleging contempt of court in Bauchi teenager’s case
August 14, 2026 1:05 am
File: Court
A Jos-based law firm, Wholesome Attorneys, has petitioned the Department of State Services over the alleged continued detention of the 17-year-old Faith Barnabas despite a Federal High Court’s judgment directing that she be released to her mother, Mrs Kumabe Zakari.
The petition, dated July 9, 2026, addressed to the Bauchi State Director of the DSS, and which copy was obtained by Arewa PUNCH on Thursday urged the security agency to ensure compliance with the July 6 judgment of the Federal High Court, Jos Judicial Division, which ordered the immediate release of the teenager to her widowed mother.
The petition followed allegations by Zakari that her daughter was forcibly converted to Islam by one Sadiq Ahmed Hussaini with the involvement of the Bauchi State Shari’ah Commission without her consent.
The lawyers alleged that the action contravened Section 8 of the Bauchi State Child Protection Law, 2023, which, according to them, recognises parental authority over decisions concerning a minor’s religion and welfare.
The solicitors further alleged that Faith was being kept at the Bauchi State Orphans and Vulnerable Children Agency despite existing court orders directing that she be reunited with her family.
The petition stated in part, “Faith is being unlawfully held at the Bauchi State Orphans and Vulnerable Children Agency, despite subsisting court orders directing that she be reunited with her family.”
According to the lawyers, following the alleged forceful conversion in April 2026, Zakari initially regained custody of her daughter and relocated with her to Jos.
The legal practitioners further alleged that Hussaini tracked the teenager to Jos on April 30 and abducted her to an undisclosed location.
“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, Sadiq Ahmed Hussaini tracked the teenager to Jos and abducted her to an undisclosed location,” the petition stated.
The petition stressed that the Bauchi State Police Command subsequently located Hussaini and recovered the teenager but transferred Faith to BASOVCA instead of releasing her to her mother.
The lawyers insisted that although Hussaini was facing trial before a Principal District Court in Bauchi over charges bordering on conspiracy and abduction, he was allowed access to the teenager while her mother and other relatives were allegedly denied similar access.
However, the solicitors lamented that BASOVCA subsequently failed to comply with an interim order of the Principal District Court directing the release of Faith to her mother.
The team of lawyers maintained that the development prompted them to institute a fundamental rights enforcement suit before the Federal High Court in Jos, which later ordered the immediate release of the teenager.
The law firm, thus, urged the DSS to intervene and ensure compliance with the Federal High Court judgment, including the immediate reunification of Faith with her mother.
The solicitors also said Zakari had suffered severe emotional trauma as a result of the circumstances surrounding her daughter’s continued disappearance, separation from her and continued detention.
Meanwhile, the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Billiri Local Government Area Chapter, Gombe State, has condemned what it described as the continued disobedience to the Federal High Court judgment.
In a statement issued on August 2, 2026, and signed by its Chairman, Sarki Napthali, YOWICAN expressed concern over the continued custody of Faith and described the situation as an affront to the rule of law and the authority of the judiciary.
The group said, “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.”
YOWICAN argued that the continued custody of the teenager violated constitutional provisions relating to personal liberty, family life and freedom of religion, as well as provisions of the Child Rights Act and the Bauchi State Child Protection Law.
“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 recognise parental authority over a child’s welfare and religious upbringing,” the organisation stated.
The youth body also referenced international instruments that included 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, which Nigeria is a signatory to.
As a result, YOWICAN called on the Bauchi State Government and BASOVCA to comply with the Federal High Court judgment and urged the Attorney General of the Federation, the Inspector-General of Police and other relevant security agencies to ensure enforcement of the order.
The organisation also called for contempt proceedings against any public official or institution found to have deliberately disobeyed the court’s directive.
It further demanded the nullification of documents allegedly used to alter the teenager’s name and religion.
Our correspondent further reports that the development followed the earlier fundamental rights suit instituted by Zakari before the Federal High Court in Jos after she alleged that her daughter disappeared in April 2026 and was subsequently declared to have converted to Islam by the Bauchi State Shari’ah Commission.
In the suit, the mother is seeking the immediate release of her daughter from state custody, the nullification of documents relating to the alleged conversion and damages over alleged violations of the teenager’s fundamental rights.
The respondents named in the suit include the Bauchi State Government, the Attorney-General of Bauchi State, the Police Service Commission, the Commissioner of Police, BASOVCA, the Bauchi State Shari’ah Commission and Sadiq Ahmad Hassan.
The case has attracted attention from religious freedom advocates and civil society groups, who say it raises broader questions concerning children’s rights, parental authority, freedom of religion and compliance with judicial order.
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