- A clergyman has been arraigned in Edo state for abducting a church member
- The cleric was also accused of having carnal knowledge of the church member who is married
- He, however, pleaded guilty to the charges and was granted N200,00 bail
- The case was adjourned to November 29, 2018, for definite hearing
A 34-year-old pastor identified as Joseph Igwemon has been arraigned before an Oredo magistrates’ court in Benin, Edo state, for reportedly abducting and having carnal knowledge of one of his church members.
The accused who is the pastor of the Global Influence Ministry was said to have committed the offence on October 15, 2018, in the Mission Road area of Benin metropolis, The Punch reports.
The victim was said to be a chorister in Igwemon’s church and was wedded to her husband by the accused.
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Legit.ng gathers Igwemon was arraigned on two counts of abduction and an act likely to cause the breach of peace. It was alleged that the pastor had carnal knowledge of the victim inside his church.
He was also accused of keeping the woman in his house in spite of her marital status.
The prosecution said the offence contravened sections 249(d) and 361 of the Criminal Code applicable in the state.
Read the charges in part: “That you, Pastor Joseph Igwemon, on October 15, 2018, at noon in your church, Global Influence Ministry, at 16, Owoseni Street, off Mission Road, Benin, did conduct yourself in a manner likely to cause the breach of peace by having carnal knowledge of one Stella George, who is a chorister in your church, having wedded her and her husband, one Paul Nosakhare, and thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 249 (d) of the Criminal Code, Cap 48, Vol. II, Laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria, 1976, as applicable in Edo state.
“That you, Pastor Joseph Igwemon, on the same date, time and place, in the aforesaid magisterial district, did abduct one Mrs Stella George by keeping her in your house for months, knowing that she is married and thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 361 of the Criminal Code, Cap 48, Vol. II, Laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria, 1976, as applicable in Edo state.”
But Igwemon reportedly pleaded not guilty to the charges. The presiding magistrate, Mrs Isi Iyoha, granted the pastor bail in the sum of N200,000 and a surety in like sum, who must be gainfully employed.
The case was adjourned to November 29, 2018, for definite hearing.
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Meanwhile, A UK-based Nigerian pastor Gbenga Samuel working under Winners’ Chapel in Dartford, England has been exposed by an undercover reporter after claiming he can cure people from being gay.
Legit.ng gathers that an ITV News investigation revealed that gay conversion, or “gay cure”, therapy is taking place in UK churches.
During the investigation, the ITV undercover reporter said he found that pastors at the Pentecostal Winners’ Chapel in Dartford, UK, claimed they could cure people of homosexuality.
The reporter secretly recorded one of the pastors, Gbenga Samuel, while spinning him (the reporter) around, telling him: “Let there be a release! Let the fire come upon him!”
This reportedly happened shortly after the reporter disclosed he is gay.
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Source: Legit.ng