Prophet remanded in prison for allegedly raping 13-year-old in Akwa Ibom

A High Court sitting in Akwa Ibom State on Monday ordered that a 32-year-old prophet be remanded in the state’s correctional centre for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl who was brought to him for prayers.

The accused identified as Godson Thompson, a father of three and a native of Ikot Offiong Nsit in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area, had allegedly assaulted the victim, who is an SS1 student of a Government Secondary School in Uyo, the state capital.

At the hearing on Monday, the trial judge, Justice Bassey Nkanang, ordered the remand of the prophet, after hearing the evidence of the victim, who told the court how she arrived at the prophet’s church.

The victim narrated that while living with her elder sister in Uyo, her in-law took her to the church at Information Drive, Uyo, where he left her at about 6 pm.

She noted that after her guardian had left, the Pastor took her to his house, where he raped her all through the night.

She said the accused person, after the act, gave her a bucket to urinate inside the house in order to prevent her from going outside.

The victim narrated that she was subjected to using sanitary pads for two weeks due to bleeding, after the incident which occurred on Friday, July 10, 2020.

She also disclosed that she saw different colours of female underwear and pictures of women inside the prophet’s house, adding that she escaped after the accused forgot to lock the door of his house.

Justice Nkanang ruled that the case be adjourned till 1st August 2022 for the continuation of trial and ordered that the accused be remanded in prison till adjourned date.