KINGSLEY EBERE
A 33-year old married Church worker, James Rich, has landed in trouble in Anambra State after he allegedly engaged a 14-year old girl in sex and impregnated her in the process. P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspect, Rich, has been arrested by the Police operatives from the Anambra State Command and detained for interrogation over the alleged rape and Impregnating a minor.
The incident happened inside a church at Ifite, Awka, Anambra State, where they worked as members of the church.
According to the Police, the suspect, James Rich from Cross Rivers State, works as a yardman in the church and he is married with two kids while expecting a third child before the incident happened.
He was said to have admitted defiling the victim and impregnating her in the process. But he pleaded for pardon, blaming the act on the devil.
“I usually sleep with her every Sunday morning at the church premises. But I had carnal knowledge of her for about three times after giving her N200 to buy biscuit.”
“I plead for pardon. This is the first time I’m committing the crime and it’s out of temptation that I did so.”
The victim, who has developmental challenges, revealed that the suspect usually engages her in sex every Sunday morning before commencement of the 6:30am church service.
The State Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Hon Ify Obinabo, said that the suspect was apprehended through the assistance of the State Police Command.
Speaking through her Special Assistant, Mrs. Blessing Nweke, the Commissioner disclosed that the matter was reported to her through the victim’s guardian and the suspect was apprehended after the victim was certified pregnant, adding that the case would soon be charged to Court in order to get justice for the victim.
She warned adults to stop defiling young girls, especially minors to avoid spending the rest of their lives in prison as the state frowns at such acts.
The suspect risks several years of imprisonment or life imprisonment for the alleged offence but that will be after the conclusion of investigations by the Police.