A law firm, Wholesome Attorneys, petitioned the Department of State Services over the continued custody of a 17-year-old girl in Bauchi, alleging that state institutions are refusing to obey a Federal High Court order for her release to her mother.
The petition, dated July 9, 2026, and filed by Jos-based Wholesome Attorneys on behalf of Mrs. Kumabe Zakari, urged the Bauchi State Director of the DSS to enforce the July 6 judgement of the Federal High Court, Jos Judicial Division, which ordered the immediate release of Miss Faith Barnabas to her widowed mother.
According to the petition, Faith was allegedly forcibly converted to Islam in April 2026 by one Sadiq Ahmed Hussaini, with the involvement of the Bauchi State Shari’ah Commission and without parental consent, in violation of Section 8 of the Bauchi State Child Protection Law, 2023.
The lawyers said Mrs. Zakari initially regained custody and relocated to Jos, but on April 30, Mr Hussaini allegedly tracked and abducted the teenager.
The Bauchi State Police Command later recovered Faith, but the law firm alleged that instead of releasing her to her mother, the police transferred her to the Bauchi State Orphans and Vulnerable Children Agency, BASOVCA.
The petition further claimed that while Mr Hussaini is standing trial before a Principal District Court in Bauchi for conspiracy and abduction, he has been granted access to the teenager, while her mother and relatives have been denied.
After BASOVCA allegedly failed to comply with an interim order by the Principal District Court for Faith’s release, Wholesome Attorneys filed a fundamental rights suit at the Federal High Court in Jos. The court on July 6 ordered the minor’s immediate release.
The lawyers described the situation as “a pattern of disobedience to court orders” and asked the DSS to intervene to facilitate the reunification, noting that Mrs Zakari has suffered severe emotional trauma.
The case has drawn condemnation from civil society. In an August 2, 2026 statement, the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria, YOWICAN, Billiri LGA Chapter, said the Bauchi State Government and BASOVCA had failed to obey the July 6 directive as of that date. Chairman Comrade Sarki P. Napthali said the continued detention violates the 1999 Constitution, the Child Rights Act and the Bauchi Child Protection Law, as well as Nigeria’s obligations under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
YOWICAN called on the Bauchi State Government and BASOVCA to comply fully with the judgement and urged the Attorney General of the Federation, the Inspector General of Police and other security agencies to enforce the order. It also demanded contempt proceedings against any officials who disobeyed the court and the nullification of documents allegedly used to change the teenager’s religion and name.
The dispute stems from a fundamental rights suit filed by Mrs Zakari seeking Faith’s release, the nullification of conversion documents, and damages for alleged violations of constitutional rights.
Respondents listed include 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.
According to YOWICAN, the matter has attracted growing national and international attention, with religious freedom advocates describing it as a test case for children’s rights, parental authority and respect for court orders.
The allegations remain subject to judicial processes, and all respondents are entitled to present their positions in court.
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