The pastor’s daughter at the centre of a row between Nigeria’s umbrella Christian and Muslim groups has broken her silence, debunking claims by her father and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) that she was abducted and converted by force.

The conversion of 24 years old Miss Charity (now renamed Aisha) Uzoechina, daughter of Pastor Raymond Uzoechina of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has been a subject of controversy, wth the father and CAN accusing the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, of abducting and forcibly converting her to Islam. The Etsu Nupe and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) have, however, insisted that she converted voluntarily and sought refuge in the Etsu Nupe’s Bida palace in Niger State out of fear of her father.

Clearing the air on the saga, Charity (Aisha) said in an interview with the Abuja-based Weekly Trust published this morning: “I was formerly known as Charity Uzoechina and now A’isha Uzoechina. I changed my name because I have accepted Islam. I joined Islam on my own. Nobody enticed me with anything to join Islam.

“I converted to Islam because I love the character of Muslims, particularly the way they behave. You know Muslims believe in God. I have Muslim friends and I watch what they do, that enticed me to join Islam. I used to read Qur’an when I was a Christian. I always join them to read Qur’an and through that I found out that it is the same one God they worship. So I embraced Islam.”

The Bida Sharia Court 1 is expected to rule next Thursday, August 1, on whether or not Charity (Aisha), a student of Federal Polytechnic, Bida, should be released to her parents. The Bida Sharia Court had earlier ruled that she should remain in the custody of the traditional ruler (the Etsu Nupe) but Pastor Uzoechina promptly lodged an appeal, insisting that it is wrong to try a case involving a Christian in a Muslim Sharia Court.

•Photo shows Charity a.k.a Aisha.

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