A pastor in Imo State has been handed an eight-year prison term by Justice T.N. Nzeukwu for sexually assaulting a woman who was a member of his church.
Founder of Deliverance Ministry of the Good Shepherd, Pastor Desmond Eke, was found guilty of exploiting the trust the woman placed in him.
Pastor Eke was accused of raping the woman and administering a substance that left her disoriented and weak. The prosecution, led by Chioma Emuka, revealed that the pastor took advantage of the woman while she was in a vulnerable state.
During the trial, it was disclosed that Pastor Eke justified his actions to the woman by claiming that his semen had spiritual powers to deliver her from evil spirits.
Justice Nzeukwu convicted Pastor Eke of breaching trust and raping the woman, while the third charge related to causing injuries during the assault was dismissed due to lack of resistance from the victim.
Defense counsel Ohaka had argued for leniency, citing the pastor’s good conduct in attending court proceedings without absconding.
This case marked the first prosecution under the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act in Imo State, with civil society organization Onurube playing a pivotal role in reporting and monitoring the trial.
Onurube’s convener, Marjorie Ezihe, commended the court’s decision, emphasizing that the conviction would discourage others from committing similar acts of sexual violence.