The founder of Deliverance Ministry of the Good Shepherd, Umuihita Avu, Owerri West LGA Imo State, Pastor Desmond Eke, has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment for raping the wife of his church member.
An Imo State High Court presided over by Justice T.N. Nzeukwu found him guilty of taking advantage of the woman who had vested so much trust in him.
Pastor Eke faced trial on a three-count charge of raping the woman who is also a member of his church and administering a stupefying substance on his victim which made her dizzy and weak.
According to the prosecution counsel, Chioma Emuka, it was while in the dizzy state that Pastor Eke took advantage of the woman who woke up to consciousness while he was still inside her.
Emuka said on enquiry on why he had to violate her, the pastor told the 25-year-old woman that his semen is holy enough to deliver her of the marine spirit that was disturbing her.
Delivering his Judgment on the matter, Justice Nzeukwu convicted Pastor Eke on two count charge of breaching trust and raping the woman, but discharged him on the third count which is bothering on inflicting injuries during the rape.
According to the judge, since the woman was not completely unconscious during the incident, there was no way injuries could result since there was no resistance.
Before the judgment, defense counsel, Ohaka, standing in for Nwaneri of Dauda Chambers had pleaded that his client had been of good behavior having been present in the court throughout the trial without jumping bail.
He pleaded that instead of a full sentence, that his client be put on probation.
Thegazellenews.com recalls that this is the first case to be prosecuted under the Violent Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act in the State.
A civil society organisation, Onurube reported the matter and has followed it up to its logical end.
Speaking on the case, convener of Onurube, Marjorie Ezihe lauded the court for convicting the pastor, adding that the conviction would serve as a deterrent to those intending to indulge in such inhuman acts of seeking to have carnal knowledge of women without their consent.
