A magistrate court in Awka, Anambra State, has remanded Reverend Father Nwaigwe Stephen, a Catholic priest, on charges of alleged rape and impregnation of a teenager.
The Chief Magistrate, Genevieve Osakwe, presided over the court proceedings.
The priest is accused of forcefully taking the victim to Benin City, Edo State, where she delivered the baby.
However, police investigations have revealed that the whereabouts of the child remain unknown.
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The allegations state that the priest met the teenager at a Catholic Church Parish in Obosi, Idemili North LGA of Anambra State, where she was invited for a religious church program.
The victim, told court on last November 20, that the priest took her from her parents when she was 14 years old, promising to sponsor her education while she served as the priest’s cook.
The victim detailed that after moving into the priest’s house in Ihiala, Anambra State, he began engaging in inappropriate conduct with her, which continued until she became pregnant at the age of 17.
She further revealed that when she informed the priest about her pregnancy, he took her to Benin City and introduced her to a man and woman as his brother and brother’s wife.
However, upon giving birth at a native birth attendant’s house in Benin City, the victim was allegedly told that the baby had died, and efforts to see the deceased child were futile.
The priest purportedly instructed her to claim that she was gang-raped.
During the remand proceedings, the police prosecutor argued that there was probable cause to order the remand of the priest, and witnesses were bound over to appear before the court for future hearings.
The defence counsel applied for the bail of the defendant, citing legal provisions.
The police prosecutor opposed the bail application, emphasizing that the case involved an offense against a minor who was under the spiritual guardianship of the defendant.
The prosecutor highlighted that the defendant had been suspended by the Roman Catholic Church and questioned the legitimacy of the health challenges claimed by the defence.
The Chief Magistrate, ruling on the bail application, noted that the alleged offense carried a potential life imprisonment penalty.
Expressing concern about the increasing cases of rape against minors, the magistrate emphasized that the court would not tolerate societal decay.
Consequently, Reverend Father Nwaigwe Stephen was remanded at the Correctional Centre, with the court advising him to seek bail at the High Court.
The case has been adjourned to December 6, 2023, for a compliance report, and the prosecuting police officer was directed to transmit the original case file to the office of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Anambra State.
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