CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
Police operatives from the Ogun State Command have arrested the General Overseer of The Beloved Chapel Church, Pastor Israel Adebayo, after he allegedly lured a 14-year old choir member into sex romp and defiled her inside the church premises, which caused continuous bleeding for almost one year.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at No. 9, Iyaniwura Street, off Owonikoko Street, Agbado area of Ogun state, where the Church is located.
This was disclosed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, who confirmed that the suspect, Pastor Adebayo, was in Police custody undergoing interrogation over the conduct.
He stated that the 38-year old Pastor Adebayo was arrested following a complaint lodged at Agbado Divisional Headquarters by the mother of the victim, who reported that when she travelled to treat herself of a certain ailment, her daughter, who happened to be a member of the choir in their church, went to the church and the Pastor allegedly lured her into his room and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her.
“Upon the report, DPO Agbado detailed his detectives to the scene where the randy Pastor was arrested and on interrogation, the Pastor admitted defiling the victim and pleaded for forgiveness.”
According to SP Oyeyemi, the suspect would have been arrested long ago, but mother of the victim frustrated the move because she does not want to offend the Pastor, who she regarded as her spiritual director.
However, as the victim bled continuously from her private part since when the incident happened in October 2021, she was left with no option than to allow the Police come into the matter.
Oyeyemi stated that the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole, has ordered the case to be transferred to the SCID for further investigation and possible prosecution.
He stated that the CP also warned parents to stop the habit of covering anybody who indecently assaulted their daughter(s) no matter how close they are to such persons as they too may be liable for prosecution for compounding felony.
The Pastor risks several years of imprisonment if he is tried and found guilty before Court for the alleged offence but that will be after the conclusion of investigations by the Police.