A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Port Harcourt, River State, has remanded a pastor, Piller Erekwa to the maximum security custodial centre for allegedly defiling and impregnating a minor in Emohua Local Government Area of the state.
Truetells Nigeria reported that Erekwa, who is the presiding pastor of the Glorious Covenant Church was arrested last Thursday at Ndele by Rumuji Police Division.
He also threatened to kill the minor if she told anyone and later allegedly proposed termination of the pregnancy, but her family objected to it.
He was arraigned on Thursday, July 13, 2023, by the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department of the Rivers State Police Command on a one-count charge of sexual abuse.
The accused pleaded guilty when the charge was read to him that he sexually abused a 15-year-old girl in Mgbuola village in Ndele, Emuoha LGA between December 2022 and January 2023 thereby committing an offence punishable by the law of Rivers State.
The trial Magistrate, Ogeh Elkanah adjourned the matter to 19, July 2023 for facts and sentencing, demanding the suspect
Recall that Pastor Erekwa was accused of defiling and impregnating the teenager who is also a member of his church.
Meanwhile, an advocacy group, the Centre for Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign has commended the Police for arraignment of the suspect in court.
The National Coordinator, Prince Wiro also lauded the family of the rape survivor for not bowing to entreaties for an out-of-court settlement
The court presided over by Chief Magistrate Ogeh Elkanah at the Rivers State family court adjourned the matter to 19, July 2023 for facts and sentencing, after remanding the suspect.