Prophet Joseph Ogundeji, a 30-year-old leader of the Cherubim and Seraphim church in Ajuwon, has been taken into custody by the Ogun state Police Command. He is accused of sexually abusing two underage sisters who are members of his congregation.
The arrest occurred on November 11, 2022, following a complaint filed at Ajuwon divisional headquarters by the girls’ father. He reported that his 16-year-old daughter was pregnant, and upon investigation, it was revealed that the prophet was responsible for the pregnancy.
State police command spokesperson, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, stated that the DPO Ajuwon division, SP Andrew Akinseye, deployed detectives to apprehend the prophet upon receiving the report.
During interrogation, the prophet confessed to the crime. Further investigation uncovered that he had not only assaulted the 16-year-old girl but also her 13-year-old younger sister. The victims disclosed that after church vigils, the prophet would instruct them to stay at his house, where he would give them something to consume, causing them to fall asleep and then be violated.
The victims explained that they didn’t report the abuse to their parents because the suspect had threatened to harm them if they revealed the truth.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Bankole, has ordered the suspect to be transferred to the anti-human trafficking and child labor unit of the state Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation and potential prosecution.