Catholic priest arraigned in court for raping and impregnating teenage girl in Anambra
A Catholic priest has been arraigned in court for sexually assaulting a teenage girl in Anambra State. The rape eventually lead to pregnancy and a series of events involving the disappearance of the child she gave birth to. This priest has been identified as Reverend father Nwaigwe Stephen. The court proceedings was held on the 20th of November 2023.
The priest also happens to be one of the priests that was expelled from a well-known Catholic Church located in Orlu, Imo State in 2018. The Church has been identified as the Two Hearts of Love Congregation. He was expelled from this Church because of misconduct.
The case was brought before a chief Magistrate Court in Anambra State. It was the Children, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Court sitting at this court that remanded this priest for his crimes. He allegedly raped and impregnated a 17 year old girl. This man had also allegedly taken this teenage girl to Benin City in Edo State forcefully.
She delivered the child in Benin City and the child mysteriously vanished after she gave birth. Investigation is still being carried out but as of now, the child has not been found yet. He was charged for sexually assaulting a minor. This offence is punishable under section 34(2) of the Child’s Rights Law of Anambra State, 2004.
The teenage girl whose name is still undisclosed, and the priest met in a church program in Anambra State. They met at the St. Albert The Great Catholic Church Parish located in Obosi.
She revealed that the priest had taken her to his home to live with him after promising her parents that he would sponsor her education. She was to serve as a cook in his house and he in return would send her to school. She was only 14 years old at the time she moved into his house. She revealed that it wasn't long after she got to his house that he began to assault her sexually.
She eventually became pregnant at 17 years old. After she got pregnant, he took her to Benin City, Edo State and they lived in a man's house. The priest claimed the man was his brother. When it was time to have the baby, he took her to a native birth attendant’s house in Benin City. After she gave birth, she didn't see her baby. They told her her baby had died. They refused to show her the dead baby even when she asked, claiming that they had already buried the baby.
The Police prosecutor them told the court that this was enough to remand this priest and call some witnesses to Testify to the case. The counsel of the priest then moved for the application of bail for the priest but this was denied by the presiding Chief Magistrate, who is Genevieve Osakwe.
She revealed that this case was punishable because it was a severe one. She revealed that the number of rape cases were becoming prevalent. She then adjourned the case to the 6th of December, 2023.
A Catholic priest has been arraigned in court for sexually assaulting a teenage girl in Anambra State. The rape eventually lead to pregnancy and a series of events involving the disappearance of the child she gave birth to. This priest has been identified as Reverend father Nwaigwe Stephen. The court proceedings was held on the 20th of November 2023.
The priest also happens to be one of the priests that was expelled from a well-known Catholic Church located in Orlu, Imo State in 2018. The Church has been identified as the Two Hearts of Love Congregation. He was expelled from this Church because of misconduct.
The case was brought before a chief Magistrate Court in Anambra State. It was the Children, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Court sitting at this court that remanded this priest for his crimes. He allegedly raped and impregnated a 17 year old girl. This man had also allegedly taken this teenage girl to Benin City in Edo State forcefully.
She delivered the child in Benin City and the child mysteriously vanished after she gave birth. Investigation is still being carried out but as of now, the child has not been found yet. He was charged for sexually assaulting a minor. This offence is punishable under section 34(2) of the Child’s Rights Law of Anambra State, 2004.
The teenage girl whose name is still undisclosed, and the priest met in a church program in Anambra State. They met at the St. Albert The Great Catholic Church Parish located in Obosi.
She revealed that the priest had taken her to his home to live with him after promising her parents that he would sponsor her education. She was to serve as a cook in his house and he in return would send her to school. She was only 14 years old at the time she moved into his house. She revealed that it wasn't long after she got to his house that he began to assault her sexually.
She eventually became pregnant at 17 years old. After she got pregnant, he took her to Benin City, Edo State and they lived in a man's house. The priest claimed the man was his brother. When it was time to have the baby, he took her to a native birth attendant’s house in Benin City. After she gave birth, she didn't see her baby. They told her her baby had died. They refused to show her the dead baby even when she asked, claiming that they had already buried the baby.
The Police prosecutor them told the court that this was enough to remand this priest and call some witnesses to Testify to the case. The counsel of the priest then moved for the application of bail for the priest but this was denied by the presiding Chief Magistrate, who is Genevieve Osakwe.
She revealed that this case was punishable because it was a severe one. She revealed that the number of rape cases were becoming prevalent. She then adjourned the case to the 6th of December, 2023.