The Nigerian Presidency has intervened in the case of the controversial conversion to Islam of the daughter of a pastor with the world’s fastest growing church – a development which has further strained relations between Christendom and Muslims in Africa’s largest nation.

While Pastor Raymond Uzoechina of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in North-West Niger State insists that 25-year-old Charity was abuducted and hypnotised into embracing Islam, the girl herself has said in a newspaper interview that the conversion is voluntary. She has abandoned her studies at the Federal Polytechnic, Bida, and rebuffed entreaties to leave the palace of the traditional ruler of the town, the Etsu Nupe, and return home, saying she fears her father might kill her out of anger.

The case was to come up yesterday at the Bida Sharia Court but was shelved following the intervention of the state government after being asked by the Presidency to take steps to amicably resolve the issue.

The court sitting became unnecessary after the state deputy governor, Hon. Ahmed Musa Ibeto, summoned a stakeholders’ meeting in the state capital Minna on Wednesday, at which it was agreed that the issue should be settled out of court. Apart from the deputy governor, who presided over the meeting, others in attendance included the National Secretary of the Christian Association Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Musa Asaki, the Estu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, former governor, Alhaji Abdulkadir Kure, Charity herself (now known as Aisha) and her parents.

Speaking with newsmen on the meeting and its aftermath, Deputy Governor Ibeto said: “The state government’s concern is to unify the father and his daughter. And unless the case is withdrawn, there is nothing, we can do. Government wants to open channels of mutual trust between them as the girl is afraid that something may happen to her if she returns to the father because of her conversion.

“Niger State believes or honours co-existence between all people of all religions. We believe, religion should not be allowed to divide the people and that is why the state decided to intervene in the issue.”

•Photo shows Charity a.k.a Aisha.

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