THE FAMILY Law Centre in Abakaliki has ordered the arrest of one Onyekachi Njoku, a pastor at Heavenly Preparation Church, Nsokara in Ezza-South LGA, for allegedly defiling and impregnating a 13-year-old.
The chairperson of the centre, Mrs Elizabeth Nwali, gave the order on Thursday after Njoku failed to appear in court twice to face trial.
Nwali frowned at the General Overseer of the church for the role he played in the matter, describing it as “unpleasant.”
“The pastor is now on the run because his General Overseer transferred him instead of bringing him to the centre,” she said.
Earlier, Mr Matthew Chukwu, uncle to the girl, told the centre that Njoku allegedly committed the act at his residence in Nsokara in Ebonyi. Chukwu told the centre that the victim was now impregnant.
According to him, the pregnancy was confirmed by her parents, Mr and Mrs Nyanja Chukwu, when she fell ill in June.
He explained that Njoku deceived the family with a prophecy that the victim would be pregnant and die in the process.
He said Njoku delivered the prophecy to the victim’s parents and suggested a 7-day deliverance and prayer as the only solution to the victim’s survival.
He said her parents sent the victim to the church for the deliverance and prayer to avert her death but the pastor allegedly raped and impregnated her.
Chukwu said, according to the victim, she was in church when Njoku sent for her and upon her arrival, Njoku started making advances on her, dragged her in and raped her.
“The victim told the family that Njoku threatened her not to speak to anyone about the act or she will die. Njoku took her virginity and threatened her. So, that was how she hide it until she fell sick,” Chukwu said, adding that he reported the matter to the community head, who now directed him to the centre. (NAN)
