The Children, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Court sitting at the Chief Magistrate’s court in Awka, Anambra State, has remanded a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Nwaigwe Stephen, for allegedly r@ping and impregnating a teenager.
The magistrate ordered the prosecutor to transmit the original case file to the office of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Anambra State, Daily Trust reported on Sunday, November 26, 2023.
The priest was also accused of forcefully taking the pregnant minor to Benin City, Edo State, where she was delivered of her baby, but police investigation revealed that the whereabouts of the said baby is still unknown.
The offence of having sexual intercourse with a minor, is punishable under section 34(2) of the Child’s Rights Law of Anambra State, 2004.
Nwaigwe was among the priests expelled by a popular Catholic Faith-Based Religious Congregation in Orlu, Imo State, known as the Two Hearts of Love Congregation” (Ugwu Nso) in 2018, for alleged misconduct inimical to the image of the order.
The priest had reportedly met the teenager at the St. Albert The Great Catholic Church Parish, Obosi, Anambra State, where he was invited for a religious church programme.
The victim, while answering questions in court during remand proceedings on Monday November 20, 2023, said the priest took her from her parents to live with him when she was 14 years old, promising to sponsor her education, while she equally served as his cook.
She stated that not long after she moved into the priest’s house, he allegedly started forcing himself sexually on her, saying he continued the act until she became pregnant at the age of 17.
The minor further stated that when she informed the priest about her pregnancy, the priest took her from Ihiala Anambra State, where they lived, to somewhere in Benin City, Edo, to the house of a man and woman who the priest introduced to her as his brother and brother’s wife.
“But when I gave birth to my baby at a native birth attendant’s house in Benin City, I was told that the baby died and when I made efforts for them to show me the dead baby, they said the baby had been buried,” she said.
When court asked if she had been gang-raped before, the minor noted, “While on our way to Benin City, father told me to say that I was gang-raped. But I have never been raped before, except the ones he (father) did to me in his house,”
The defence counsel applied for bail of the defendant on most liberal terms, which was opposed by the prosecution.
Ruling on the bail application, the presiding Chief Magistrate, Genevieve Osakwe, stated that the case before the court was an offence punishable with life imprisonment. The defendant was accordingly remanded in custody by the Magistrate and adjourned the case till 6th December, 2023.