MICHAEL AKINOLA
Police operatives from the Edo State Command have arrested a 38-year old Pastor Simeon Okehielem, of the Synagogue Prayers Ministry, for allegedly drugging a married church member, raping and Impregnating her in the process.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the Pastor was said to have attempted aborting the pregnancy but the victim was eventually delivered of the baby.
The incident happened in February, 2022, in Uholor community, Benin City, where he allegedly drugged and raped the woman, leading to the birth of a child who is now about three years.
Apart from the victim, the Police also alleged that Pastor Okehielem
engaged in sexual relationships with other married women within his congregation.
Trouble was said to have started after the victim’s husband conducted DNA test and the result confirmed that he was not the biological father of the child. The Pastor was fingered as being responsible, which prompted the Police to arrest and formally arraign him before the Court.
He was arraigned on a two-count charge of rape and administering a stupefying substance with the intent to commit felony.
The State Prosecutor, P.O. Odion, told the Court that the alleged offence was contrary to the provisions of the law and punishable under Section 4 and Section 5(1) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2021, and under Section 256 of the Criminal Law of Edo State, 2022.”
He asked the Court to order the remand of the defendant in custody at the correctional center pending advice from the Director of Public Prosecution.
The presiding judge, Justice Erhabor, ordered the defendant remanded in the correctional center for 14 days, pending legal advice from the DPP, which will determine if the trial will go on or not over the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.