Randy Pastor Arrested For Sexually Assaulting Underage Girls Denied Bail

Randy Pastor Arrested For Sexually Assaulting Underage Girls Denied Bail

The founder of Tongues of Fire Restoration Ministry, Sogunle, Lagos, Pastor Chukwuemeka Nkwocha, was arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court yesterday for grievous assaults and defilement of 13 young girls. Nkwocha, however, was denied bail by the magistrate, B. O. Osunsanmi.

This was sequel to the bail application by the defence counsel, A. K. Olajuka, seeking bail for the accused on liberal terms. Osunsanmi described the offence as highly grievous which needs the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

According to her, the case should be referred to the High Court. Nkwocha allegedly committed the offence between 2014 and August 30, 2016 at No. 5, Omolade Street, Oshodi in the Lagos Magisterial District.

According to the charge sheet, Nkwocha did abduct the teenagers without their consent and thereby committed the offence punishable under Section 266 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

The 13 girls are identified as Adedeji Mosadoluwa (19), Glory Friday (12), Millicent Chukwu (13), Okeke Chiamaka (16), Nwadocheli Precious (13), Ada Akwarandu (13), Emmanuel Faith (17) and Anyaoha Chidera (14). Others are Chinecherem John (16), Etoh Adanne (18), Precious Amarachi (16), Audu Promise (15) and 13-year-old Chinecherem Odozor.

Nkwocha was arraigned on a fourcount charge bothering on sexual harassment, assault, defilement and procurement of noxious drugs with intent to defile.

Meanwhile, the defence counsel, Olajuka, laid his bail application on the grounds that the prosecutor, Inspector Simon Imhowua, had over-exaggerated the matter and thereby not provided substantive evidence to buttress the case.

Olajuka protested that one of the acclaimed victims was a cousin to the pastor and that the pastor had a charity organisation which had been catering for the girls in the past four years. He said the girls were neither abducted nor held against their will.

The counsel added that he would not want to state the antecedent of the case but pleaded that it was in the judicial prerogative of Her Lordship to grant bail.

On the contrary, Imhowua said although the defence had applied for bail, the grave implication of the case should not be overlooked and the bail conditions should not be on liberal terms.

The Investigating Police Officer (IPO), Idowu Akande, said all the victims were discovered in the pastor’s residence.