From pulpit to prison

Evil pastor jailed 49 year for raping and impregnating 16-year-old daughter thrice as tricycle operator puts side chic’s’ neighbour in the family way

From Isaac Job, Uyo

What will the congregation of Mount Zion Light House Full Gospel Church say about their leader, Apostle Williams Okon Bassey, who impregnated his 16-year-old daughter, before he was sentenced to 49 years improvement by an Uyo high court, presided by Justice Bassey Nkanang?

Some described it as a case of nemesis taking its toll on the ‘man of God’ who reportedly defiled and impregnated the mother of this same daughter when she was 13 years old, abandoned her and later abused and impregnated the daughter born for him at the age of 13.

Many members of his church may say that it is the handiwork of the Devil that pushed their beloved pastor to commit such an abominable offense inside the church premises with his daughter.

However, investigation revealed that no devil or demon slept with the young girl, except her randy father, Bassey, who defiled her and impregnated her three consecutive times, against the culture, tradition of his people and the commandment of God.

Sources told Daily Sun that Apostle Williams Bassey is a serial cradle snatcher. He had impregnated the mother of this  daughter at the  age of 13 years, jilted her, refused to marry the woman and left her to fend for herself.

This time, he was caught by the long arm of the law as he bagged 49 years imprisonment in Uyo High Court. Ironically, the case of God’s servant was brought before the court of man.

It was gathered that the journey of Pastor Williams’ imprisonment started in 2008 when he went to Mkpat Enin to pick up the daughter from her maternal grandmother after years of neglect and outright abandonment.

Speaking with our reporter in the community, a close relative, who pleaded anonymity, said Apostle Williams was called to pick the daughter as the caregiver and grandmother was aging and unable to cater for her, while the mother travelled to Eket in search for a new life as William had  jilted her.

Sources confirmed that Williams took the daughter to his new  wedded wife, Esther Williams Bassey, at No. 7, Ibanga Street, Uyo, and she was enrolled at Uyo High School, off Oron Road.

According to sources, Williams was in charge of the church parish in Uyo before he was posted to another parish in Ikono Local Government Area.

Unknown to his wife, Esther, who had become stepmother of  the girl, Apostle Williams had turned her to a sex toy at home. He impregnated her three times and the mother of the girl helped him to abort the pregnancies.

But the last straw that broke the camel’s back was the third pregnancy by the randy paster. Sources said the stepmother began to punish her through starvation, beating and, sometimes, stabbed the daughter at the early stage of the pregnancy.

The girl, who was disappointed and frustrated, narrated her ordeal to the school guidance counsellor, a corps member in the school.

Another witness, who also pleaded anonymity, said the guidance counsellor promptly alerted the Family Advancement Programme unit in the Ministry of Women Affairs, who informed the police, and Apostle Williams was arrested.

In his confessional statement made available to our reporter, Williams admitted having sexual intercourse with his daughter that resulted in three pregnancies, which were terminated, with the help of the girl’s mother.

He said: “My name is Apostle Williams Bassey of Ikono Local Government Area. I am an Apostle of Mount Zion Light House Full Gospel Church. I had my first daughter out of wedlock. The mother comes from Mkpat LGA. Now, I am married to Esther Williams, since 2006, and we have four children.

“My first daughter was staying with her maternal grandmother at Mkpat Enin, as I didn’t marry her mother. In 2008, I was called to pick my daughter at the age of seven, and she started living with me 

“In 2015, I attended a friend’s birthday party where I drank and became tipsy. Coming back home, I had a quarrel with my wife as returned home late.

“I left our room for the church office within the same premises. In the office, I called my daughter to come and scratch my back. As she was scratching my back, I was sexually aroused. She climbed on my back and I had sex with her. This was when I started having sex with her.”

Delivering judgement on the matter, Justice Bassey Nkanang said investigation revealed that, each time the convict impregnated the daughter, he would send the girl to her mother and inform her that the daughter was pregnant. The mum would terminate the pregnancy and send the girl back the her father at his station.

Nkanang said, when the girl became pregnant the third time, the mother raised the alarm and interrogated the daughter to find out who was responsible for the pregnancy, and she mentioned her father.

The pastor, while admitting to the crime, told the court how he lured the girl and had intercourse with, which resulted in pregnancies, subsequently.

“I called my daughter to come and scratch my back. As she was scratching my back, I felt like sleeping. My daughter climbed on top of me and I had sex her.

“That was my first time of sleeping with my daughter and she was about 16 years old then.

“I took her to the mother’s place in Eket, after telling her that our daughter was pregnant. I handed her over to the mother, who promised to get rid of the pregnancy. After the pregnancy was terminated, I continued having sex with her each time I had a misunderstanding with my wife.

“She became pregnant the second time. I still returned her to the mother, who took her to abort the pregnancy.

“When she returned the second time, I continued the act of sexing her, which resulted in the third pregnancy and the mother still took her for abortion,” the convicted cleric confessed.

In his judgement, Justice Nkanang said: “In consideration of the above analysis, therefore, the sole issue for determination in this case is hereby resolved in favour of the prosecution and it is the holding of this court that the allegations of rape and incest have been proven beyond reasonable doubt and the defendant is accordingly convicted in respect of the charges of rape and incest.

“The clear consequence of this, therefore, is that the defendant, Apostle William Okon Bassey, is hereby found guilty of the offences of rape and incest, contrary to and punishable, respectively, under section 367 and 242 (1) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 38, Volume 2, Laws of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, 2000, and is accordingly convicted.”

Similarly, one Ime Edet Akpan was sentenced to 21 years imprisonment for raping and impregnated the daughter of his side chic’s neighbour in Nung Udoe, Ibesikpo Asutan council of the state.

Akpan, a 50-year-old tricycle operator from Akamba Nsukara Offot in Uyo LGA of the state, married with five children, went to visit his girlfriend popularly known as “side chic,” and met her absence. He decided to sexually assault the daughter of his girlfriend’s neighbour while the girl was bathing outside because there was nobody in the compound.

Unfortunately, the 13-year-old  girl became pregnant. Akpan was apprehended when the young girl mentioned him as being responsible for the pregnancy.

Akpan, in his confessional statement, admitted to have raped the girl in the absence of his girlfriend, as there was nobody in the compound.

When Justice Bassey Nkanang pronounced his prison terms, Akpan broke down in tears, begging the court that he would take care of the pregnancy.

“I held her and had unlawful carnal knowledge of her and there was nobody in the compound. Now that she is pregnant, I will take care of her until she puts to bed,” the convicted said.