A 25-year-old Choirmaster James Onuorah has been convicted and sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment for raping a 16-year-old girl and seven years’ imprisonment for offensive conduct.
Penpushing reports that the Anambra State High Court 2, Ogidi Judicial Division,presided over by Justice Chudi Nwankwo, found the defendant guilty on two of the three counts brought against him.
The charge number HID/4C/2025 disclosed that the judgment was delivered on Friday, July 17, 2026 in the case between the State and James Mary Onuorah, having being arraigned on a three-count charge of, “Rape contrary to and punishable under Section 3(1)(a) & (2) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition and Protection) Law of Anambra State, 2017.
“Offensive conduct contrary to and punishable under Section 7 of the same Law. “Indecent assault (against the victim’s elder sister) punishable under Section 255 of the Criminal Code Cap. 36, Revised Laws of Anambra State 1991.”
Penpushing further reports that the prosecution, led by M.C. Ikeabunze, with Nkiru Nzekwu in the charge sheet, presented a case alleging abuse of trust.
‘The defendant, a choir master and church teacher at Iba Pope Parish, Awada, deceived the mother of the victim that all her daughters were possessed by ‘marine spirits and spiritual husbands’ and needed deliverance at his home’, it read.
“Relying on this, the mother allowed her daughters to attend prayer sessions at the defendant’s residence at No. 8 Amanafor Street, Awada. Exploiting this position of spiritual authority, the defendant lured the 16-year-old victim to his altar. He ordered her to strip naked, claiming it was ‘the direction of the Holy Spirit’’, it added.
“He went further to collect her menstrual blood and ovulation discharge. He then had sexual intercourse with her, claiming that a ‘spiritual husband’ had caused fibroids in her womb and that the only cure was sex with him. As a result, the victim became pregnant and delivered a baby in April 2026. Her hospital discharge receipt was tendered and admitted in evidence’, the charge read
Penpushing also reports that the prosecution equally alleged that the defendant committed a similar act against the victim’s elder sister, and called four witnesses as PW1, while the victim testified as PW4.
The defendant during cross-examination, however, denied the charges, and the court rejected his confessional statement for failing to comply with Section 13 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Anambra State.
Penpushing reports that after evaluating the evidence, the court held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, and the court found that the testimony of PW4, the victim, was direct, consistent and unshaken under cross-examination.
The court also held that the circumstantial evidence, including the pregnancy and delivery, corroborated her account, while Justice Nwankwo held that the prosecution proved the first and second counts beyond reasonable doubt and convicted the defendant of rape and offensive conduct.
Penpushing further reports that the prosecution during the sentencing proceedings, urged the court to impose the mandatory life sentence prescribed under the Violence Against Persons Law, and equally asked the court to order the defendant to pay restitution to the victim for the injuries and losses suffered, however, the defendant, on his part, pleaded in allocutus and urged the court to temper justice with mercy.
The judge in his ruling, sentenced the defendant to 25 years’ imprisonment for rape and seven years’ imprisonment for offensive conduct, while the sentences are to run concurrently, and the court also awarded ₦5 million in compensation to the victim, to be paid by the defendant.
Penpushing also reports that the court, however, discharged and acquitted the defendant on the third count relating to the victim’s elder sister after holding that the prosecution failed to prove the alleged 2014 incident due to the absence of a report or complaint.
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