70-year-old pastor, Arrested For Raping 10-year-old Orphan

A 70-year-old pastor, Alfred Idonije, has been arraigned before an Egor Magistrate’s Court 4, sitting in Benin, for allegedly raping a 10-year-old orphan, (names withheld).

Idonije, who is a pastor of an undisclosed church, is alleged to have forcefully had unlawful canal knowledge of the minor on June 25, 2012 after luring her into his room by sending her to buy Indomie Noodles for him.

Narrating her ordeal to the court, the victim said the accused had raped her on three different occasions and threatened to kill her if she reported to anyone.

Testifying before the court, the prime witness in the case and grandmother of the victim, Mrs. Mary Akhigbe, said the girl who lived with her is an orphan.

She told the court that the pastor, who is their neighbour, had sent the victim on an errand on that fateful day, adding that when she did not come back on time, she went to look for the victim, only to see the victim being sexually abused in the pastor’s bedroom.

In his submission, counsel to the defendant, Osa Uwagie, appealed to court to grant his client bail on the account that he was frail and needed medical attention.

Responding, the magistrate, Taye Omoruyi, granted the accused bail with a bond of N200, 000.00 and a surety, who must be a civil servant on grade Level 12.

Further hearing on the case was adjourned till August 23, 2012.

Counsel to the victim, Stella Ojeme and Emmanuel Dauda, expressed satisfaction with the proceeding in the case, adding that the adjournment would enable them present more witnesses to ensure that justice was done to the victim.

“We believe that at the end of this trial, justice must be seen to have been done''.