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Lagos pastor sentenced to life imprisonment for raping member’s daughter
Pastor Chris Dpuglas, a 63 years old General Overseer of Peculiar Generation Assembly Church, Oshpdi, has been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by the Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja for raping a church member’s daughter.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice Rahman Oshodi held that Douglas abused his position of authority and trust to exploit the victim.
Describing the conduct as a gross breach of trust, the judge said, “The convict occupied a position of spiritual authority and was regarded as a father figure by the victim and her family.”
He added that instead of protecting that trust, the convict “betrayed it in the most reprehensible manner.”
The court held that the abuse occurred in a hotel on several occasions, noting that the victim and her family relied on the cleric for spiritual guidance.
Justice Oshodi further stated that the prosecution proved that the victim suffered severe psychological trauma as a result of the abuse.
“The court accepts the evidence that the victim suffered depression and recurring suicidal thoughts as a direct consequence of the cpnvict’s actions,” he said.
During the trial, the prosecution, led by the Director of Public Prosecution, Dr Babajide Martins, called five witnesses, including the victim, her mother, and a medical doctor.
Medical and documentary exhibits were also tendered in evidence.
The victim told the court that the cleric initially drugged and raped her in September 2017.
“I trusted him like a spiritual father. I never imagined he could do this to me,” she testified.
Her mother also told the court that she confronted the convict after discovering the incident.
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“When I went to his church, he cried and said it was the work of the devil. He begged us in front of the elders,” she said.
The complainant said the matter was later reported to a human rights organisation, the police at Makinde Division, and the Mirabel Centre for a medical examination.
The convict, however, denied the allegations and told the court that the relationship was consensual.
But Justice Oshodi rejected the claim, holding that the evidence before the court established rape beyond a reasonable doubt.
“The defence of consent is not supported by the totality of the evidence before the court,” the judge ruled.
The court reviewed both oral and documentary evidence and considered objections raised by the defence under the Evidence Act, 2011.
While some documents were discounted for non-compliance, the court held that the oral testimony of the medical expert, Dr Maria Fadaka, remained admissible.
In his judgment, the court noted that although some alleged incidents were not sufficiently proved to have occurred before January 2018, the prosecution successfully established rape in relation to incidents when the victim was already 18 years old.
The court consequently discharged the convict on six counts of defilement and sexual assault but found him guilty on three counts of rape.
Justice Oshodi sentenced Douglas to life imprisonment on each count, holding that the sentences shall run concurrently.
“The law must protect the vulnerable, and this court will not hesitate to punish abuse of trust in the strongest terms,” the judge said.
The court also ordered that the convict’s name be entered into the Lagos State Sexual Offenders Register.
Several candidates recently shortlisted for recruitment into the Nigerian Army from Imo State have sustained varying degrees of injuries after the vehicle conveying them to the Nigerian Army Depot in Zaria, Kaduna State, was involved in a road accident on Saturday.
The candidates were said to be travelling to the training institution to commence their basic military training when the accident occurred.
Military sources familiar with the incident disclosed that the journey was being coordinated under the supervision of Lieutenant Colonel P.D. Ngal.
A military source said the victims had successfully passed the recruitment process and were heading to the Depot Nigerian Army in Zaria to begin their recruit training before the accident disrupted the journey.
“The candidates from Imo State were on their way to the Depot Nigerian Army in Zaria to begin their recruit training when the accident happened this morning,” the source said.
Videos seen by our correspondent showed several injured candidates lying by the roadside and inside damaged vehicles as emergency responders and other travellers made frantic efforts to evacuate them.
Many of the injured candidates were subsequently rushed to nearby hospitals for medical attention.
As of the time of filing this report, the exact cause of the accident and the number of casualties had yet to be officially confirmed.
Benue State Police Command has condemned the killing of the Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Benue State chapter, Ardo Rabo Mohammed, and another man, Yakubu Isa, describing the attack as a senseless criminal act capable of undermining ongoing peace and security efforts in the state.
The victims were reportedly attacked by gunmen while returning from a security meeting along the Okwudu-Ogoli Road in Otukpo Local Government Area.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, said the Commissioner of Police, CP Cletus C.N. Nwadiogbu, condemned the killings and expressed condolences to the families of the deceased.
“The Commissioner of Police strongly condemns in its entirety the brutal killing of the Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Benue State chapter, Ardo Rabo Mohammed, and one Yakubu Isa, who were reportedly attacked by unknown assailants while returning from a security meeting along Okwudu-Ogoli Road, Otukpo,” the statement read.
According to the police, the command has commenced a full-scale investigation into the incident, with tactical and intelligence teams deployed to track down those responsible.
The Commissioner assured residents that the command would leave no stone unturned in ensuring the perpetrators are identified, arrested and prosecuted.
He appealed to members of the public to remain calm, avoid taking the law into their own hands, and refrain from spreading unverified information capable of escalating tensions.
The police also urged anyone with credible information that could aid the investigation to report to the nearest police station or contact the command through its emergency lines.
Three bandits have been arrested in Benue state after a lady who they had kidnapped and released, identified them at a motor park and raised alarm.
The k!kidnappers came to Ihotu park to board a vehicle to Makurdi and were met by the lady they had earlier kidnapped and released after collecting ransom from her relatives.
They were even using a bag they collected from the girl. The girl raised the alarm, held one inside the vehicle, and two took to their heels, but were caught.
They had a ghana-must-go bag at the back of the vehicle. N11m was found inside the bag.
Following the confirmation of their identity by another lady who was also their victim, mob gathered around with the intent to beat them up and possibly set them ablaze.
But the park manager decided to invite the police and soldiers who rescued them and took them to their station.
It was later gathered that the Benue state Governor, Rev. Father Hyacinth Alia called and said he was interested in the case which made the police to take the apprehended bandits to Makurdi, the state capital.
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