Pastor Desmond Eke, the founder of the Deliverance Ministry of the Good Shepherd in Umuehieta Avu, Owerri West Local Government Area, Imo State, has been convicted and sentenced to eight years imprisonment for raping his church member’s wife.
Justice T. N. Nzeukwu of the Imo State High Court found the pastor guilty for taking advantage of the woman who had placed so much trust in him.
The defendant was tried on three counts, including raping the woman, who is also a church member, and supplying a stupefying chemical to her, causing her to become disoriented and weak.
According to prosecution lawyer Chioma Emuka, Eke took advantage of the victim, who regained consciousness while he was still inside her.
Emuka said, “On inquiry on why he had to violate her, the pastor told the 25-year-old woman that his semen is holy enough to deliver her of the marine spirit that was disturbing her.”
Justice Nzeukwu ruled that Eke was guilty of the charges brought against him.
The judge convicted the pastor on count two of the allegation of violating trust and raping the victim, but discharged him on count three, which involved inflicting injuries during the rape.
“Since the woman was not completely conscious during the incident, there was no way injuries could result since there was no resistance,“ Justice Nzeukwu held.
Before the sentencing, the defence lawyer begged the court to temper justice with mercy, citing his client’s exemplary demeanour in court throughout the trial and refusal to jump bail.
He argued that rather than a full term, his client should be placed on probation.
It was gathered that this is the first case to be prosecuted under the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act in the state.
Onurube, a civil society organisation, reported the incident and followed it through to its conclusion.
Speaking on the case, Onurube convener Marjorie Ezihe praised the court for convicting the preacher.
She hoped that the conviction would prevent anyone who planned to engage in such inhumane crimes as obtaining carnal knowledge of women without their consent.
