A woman stirred an internet debate after sharing a story about a custody issue between her younger brother and his former partner, a Jehovah’s Witness, after their child was born.

According to her account, the couple had been in a relationship that resulted in pregnancy, and the man accepted responsibility and was ready to assist both the mother and the child.

However, she claimed difficulties arose during childbirth when the woman refused to reveal her hospital location, making it difficult for the father to attend the delivery.

“My younger brother secretly dated a Jehovah’s Witness girl and along the line she got pregnant. My brother accepted responsibility immediately. He was ready to take care of both her and the baby. But the shocking part is that the moment she went into labour, she refused to tell him the hospital she was admitted to. After giving birth, she still refused to let him see his own child,” she said.

The woman went on to say that the mother stated the father could only have access to the child if he joined her church, which she strongly questioned while publishing the tale online.

The scenario has prompted discussions about religion, co-parenting rights, and access to children outside of marriage.

Legal experts have frequently stated that custody and visitation rights are typically governed by legislation rather than religious affiliation, a matter that received attention in 2023 during a number of public family law disputes reported across Nigeria.

“According to her, unless he starts worshipping in her church, he will not have access to the baby. Now tell me, when did religion become a condition for a father to see his child?” she stated.