Catholic Priest Remanded For Impregnating Teenager In Anambra

An Awka Chief Magistrates’ Court, otherwise known as the Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court, has remanded a Catholic Priest in Anambra state, Rev. Fr. Nwaigwe Stephen, for allegedly raping and impregnating a teenager.

The court remanded the priest in prison till December 6, 2023.

The defendant was also accused of forcefully taking the pregnant minor to Benin City, Edo State, where she delivered her baby, but investigation by the police revealed that the whereabouts of the said baby is still unknown.

The offence according to the police, is punishable under section 34(2) of the Child’s Rights Law of Anambra State, 2004.

The victim while answering questions in court during remand proceedings on Monday, November 20, 2023, noted that the priest took her from her parents to live with him when she was 14 years old with the promise that he would sponsor her education, while she equally served as his cook.

She stated that not long after she moved into the priest’s house, he started forcing himself sexually on her, saying he continued the act until she became pregnant at the age of 17.

The minor further stated that when she informed the priest about her pregnancy, the priest took her from Ihiala Anambra State, where they lived, to somewhere in Benin City, Edo, to the house of a man and woman whom the priest introduced to her as his brother and brother’s wife.

“But when I gave birth to my baby at a native birth attendant’s house in Benin City, I was told that the baby died and when I made efforts for them to show me the dead baby, they said the baby had been buried”.

When the court asked if she had been gang-raped before, the minor noted, “While on our way to Benin City, father told me to say that I was gang-raped. But I have never been raped before, except the ones he (father) did to me in his house”.

Also, during remand proceedings, the Police prosecutor informed the court that there was probable cause to order the remand of the priest; witnesses were bound over to appear before the High Court to give evidence, whenever the case would be mentioned.

Ruling on bail application, the presiding Chief Magistrate, Genevieve Osakwe, stated that the case before the court was an offence punishable with life imprisonment, regretting that the offence of rape against minors was becoming rampant in the society.

She warned that the court would not fold its hands to watch the society decay, irrespective of whose ox is gored.

She therefore adjourned the case to 6th December, 2023.