Pastor Desmond Eke has been sentenced to eight years in imprisonment by Justice T. N . Nzeukwu of the Imo State High Court for raping a woman who is the wife of his church member.
The convicted individual was the founder of the Deliverance Ministry of the Good Shepherd, Umuehieta Avu, Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State. He trusted the pastor, who wanted the man to take advantage of her in the worst manner possible.
The convicted church founder and the pastor was tried and convicted on three counts that relate to raping the victim, who is also a member of his church, and administering a stupefying substance on his victim, which made her dizzy and weak and unconscious to perpetrate his coward act.
The prosecution counsel, Chioma Emuka, told the court that the victim was in her dizzy state when the supposed man of God had carnal knowledge of the victim; she narrated the woman became conscious after the man was still taking advantage of her trust.
She explained that the pastor when asked if he had done such, claimed that his sperm was a holy one which would deliver the woman who was 25 years old of the evil spirit that was disturbing her.
According to the judgement delivered by Justice Nzeukwu, he explained that the allegations levelled against him were true and that he was guilty as well.
In the judgement, the judge discharged the accused of the count which bothered on on inflicting injuries during the rape; he was convicted on the charges of breaching trust and raping the woman.
According to the judge, the unconsciousness of the woman prevented her from sustaining injuries from the incident; the judge noted the victim was unable to show any level of resistance during the act, which could only be the case where injuries could be sustained.
The accused’s counsel pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy before his sentencing. The defence counsel argued that the accused was of good conduct throughout the trial, always present in court without jumping bail. He pleaded that his client should be placed on probation instead of a full sentence.
Reacting to the conclusion of the case the the convener of Onurube, Marjorie Ezihe, appreciated the court for serving justice to the lady and conviction the pastor. She explained that the sentencing of the pastor would serve as a lesson for all other individuals who would try to take advantage of women or have carnal knowledge of women without their consent.
The civil society organisation Onurube reported the matter to the authorities and followed it up from the beginning until the pastor’s conviction.
It was learnt that the conviction of the pastor is the first such case to be prosecuted under the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act in Imo state.
