A High Court in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, Southwest of Nigeria has handed down a life sentence to Pastor Enoch, the cleric of a church in Omuo Ekiti, Ekiti East Local Government Area of Ekiti State, for raping a minor who was the daughter of one of his church members.
According to the prosecution, the young girl, who frequently visited the pastor’s residence to assist his wife with household chores and help their young children with school assignments, was raped by the cleric during one of her visits to the mission house.
The Ekiti State Director of Public Prosecutions, Julius Ajibade, stated that the pastor sedated the minor with a bottle of Fanta during her visit. The girl fell asleep after consuming the drink and woke up to find herself bleeding profusely from her private parts.
Pastor Enoch was arrested and charged with the offense of rape, which is contrary to Section 2 of the Gender-Based Violence (Prohibition) Law, 2019. The prosecution called four witnesses and presented two exhibits to prove their case, while the defendant, represented by his counsel, Adeyinka Opaleke, gave evidence in his defense and called one additional witness.
In his judgment, Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi concluded that the prosecution had proven the offense of rape against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt. Consequently, the judge convicted Pastor Enoch and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
The case highlights the pervasive issue of sexual abuse and exploitation of minors, particularly within religious institutions. The verdict sends a strong message that such heinous crimes will not be tolerated and that perpetrators, regardless of their position or influence, will face severe consequences for their actions.
The sentencing of Pastor Enoch to life imprisonment serves as a step towards justice for the young victim and her family, as well as a deterrent to others who may consider exploiting their positions of trust and authority to harm vulnerable individuals.
As society continues to grapple with the scourge of gender-based violence and child sexual abuse, it is crucial that cases like this are pursued with diligence and that survivors are provided with the necessary support and resources to heal and seek justice.
