A 45-year-old pastor in Ebonyi State has been arraigned in court by the State police command for allegedly defiling a 5-year-old girl.
The pastor is said to have gone to the victim’s house to sell immune boosters to her mother when he lurred her into the act.
The victim’s mother told Punch Metro that she left the child with the pastor to go buy some items only to return and find him sticking his fingers in her baby’s private part.
According to her, “the pastor came to our house to sell some drugs to me. Before he came, I had it in mind to get some things for the house so I left him and my daughter to go and buy those things.
“When I got back home, I saw the pastor inserting his fingers in my daughters private parts.
“I shouted and he said it was the devil. I called people who came around and beat him up. Eventually, he was arrested.”
The accused has since owned up to the offence. According to him, “I am Pastor Christopher Ebenyi. I am from Eziulo in the Ishielu Local Government Area.
“I know the victim at Convent in Abakiliki. I got to their house and called her, she came and I touched her private parts.”
Pastor Ebenyi was arraigned before the magistrate court.
Police prosecutor, ASP Mathias Eze told the court that the office was punishable under section 222 of the criminal code, cap 33, vol 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria 2009.
The charge read that “You Christopher Ebenyi, on December 15, 2020, on Nsi Road, Abakiliki, in Abakiliki District, did finger the vigina of one (name withheld) aged 5, thereby committing an offence punishable under section 222 of the Criminal Code, Cap 33, Vol 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria 2009.”
Chief Magistrate Nnenna Onuoha granted the defendant bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum and adjourned the case till January 29th for trial.
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