Pastor remanded for allegedly raping woman inside church

A Benue Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Makurdi on Wednesday ordered the remand of a 34-year-old pastor, Kelvin Imo, at the Correctional Centre Makurdi for allegedly raping a church member, who came for prayer and counselling. Imo, who resides at Gboko Road, Makurdi, was charged with rape. However, the Chief Magistrate, Mr Kevin Mbanongun, did […]

A Benue Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Makurdi on Wednesday ordered the remand of a 34-year-old pastor, Kelvin Imo, at the Correctional Centre Makurdi for allegedly raping a church member, who came for prayer and counselling.

Imo, who resides at Gboko Road, Makurdi, was charged with rape.

However, the Chief Magistrate, Mr Kevin Mbanongun, did not take his plea for lack of jurisdiction over the matter.

Mbanongun adjourned the matter until October 8, for further mention.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp Friday Kanshio, told the court that the case was received at the State CID Makurdi on September 2, through a petition written by the victim against the pastor.

Kanshio said the complainant had stated in the petition that she went to a church on Gboko Road in Makurdi (name withheld) on April 22, to see the accused who was her pastor for prayer and counseling.

She said after praying for her, the pastor used a handkerchief to wipe her face and she lost strength as a result of the act.

The complainant alleged that the pastor overpowered her because she could not struggle and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her inside the church without her consent.

Kanshio said that the pastor was arrested during a police investigation.

He added that the offence contravened Section 284 of the Penal Code Laws of Benue, 2004. (NAN)