Suleiman Anyalewechi, Aba
A Magistrate Court sitting in Aba South Area Council Aba has remanded a pastor with the Assemblies of God Church, AGC, Rev. Chukwuemeka Orji over an alleged serial sexual molestation and rape of his house help.
The court presided over by Mrs Jane Young- Daniel gave the order on Tuesday June 20 after the accused had pleaded not guilty to a one count charge of rape preferred against him.
NewsCritic online reports that Rev Orji who is in charge of the Assemblies of God Church at No. 12 Ukonu street, off Ngwa Road Aba, allegedly on several occasions subjected the victim 13, who was entrusted in his care by her family to sexual molestation and abuse.
The victim revealed that for the three years she has been living with Rev. Orji and his family, she has been sexually abused for two years and all her efforts at getting the wife of Rev Orji to protect her yielded no positive results.
According to her, the abuse began in her first year with the Orjis and festered until the time of Rev Orji’s arrest a few days ago.
She stated that initially, she had resisted all attempts by Rev Orji to have a canal knowledge of her until she was coaxed, adding that thereafter, it became a regular exercise.
The victim noted that she was always silenced and prevented from reporting the development, with threats of sending her back to her parents and or dealing with the parents themselves by Rev Orji.
She said that at a point she decided to report to the wife of Rev Orji the treatment being melted out on her, but did not receive the needed protection.
NewsCritic online reports that the burble finally burst on Thursday June 15, 2023 following Rev. Orji’s resort to an oral sex after discovering disappointedly that the victim was observing her menstrual circle.
The victim said she was forced to report the sad experience to her class teacher, who in turn drew the attention of the school management to her plight.
Rev Orji, has however pleaded not guilty. The presiding Magistrate, Mrs Young- Daniel before ordering for Rev. Orji’s remand in prison custody, demanded to know from his wife Mercy Orji on phone if the victim had at any point reported to her the husband’s alleged conduct to which she responded in the affirmative, adding however that the husband repeatedly denied the allegation.
The prosecuting counsel Mrs Mary Udoji had earlier prayed the court not to grant bail to Rev Orji. The Magistrate before adjourning the matter to July 18, 2023 for hearing advised that the victim be taken back to her parents.
