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From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
A magistrate court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, has remanded a popular bishop in the state, Samuel Onyeagoziri Ndubueze, in Abakaliki correctional facility for allegedly having carnal knowledge of a 22-year-old female church member.
Ndubueze, who is the general overseer of Champions of Truth Cathedral, was accused by the girl, Euphemia Ede, of having sex with her for seven days to change her SS blood genotype and cure her sickle cell she was suffering.
The bishop, who was arrested by the police following the allegation, has been in police custody at the state police headquarters, Abakaliki, since four weeks.
He was arraigned on Tuesday before a magistrate court on a four-count charge bordering on threats to life, falsehood, fraudulent act and circulation of pornographic photos of the girl.
The prosecutor, Catherine Ajibo, told the court that the defendant had, sometime in 2021 at Mile 50 Layout, Abakaliki, unlawful carnal knowledge of her.
Ajibo noted that the offence is punishable under section 20(1) of Ebonyi State Violence Against Persons (Prohibited) Law 2018, 2009 and 2015 as amended 2024.
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She said that the defendant obtained consent of the girl by means of threats and false and fraudulent representation and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 358 of the Criminal Code Cap 33 Vol.1 Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria.
Friday Agbom, defence counsel, prayed the court for bail, which was rejected.
Mrs Nkechi Chima, the chief magistrate, Court 2, Abakaliki, rejected the bail application, noting that the court lacked jurisdiction to handle the case.
Chima also ordered the transfer of the original case file, evidence, and all documents in the matter to the Department of Public Prosecutions for further prosecution.
The magistrate remanded the defendant in correctional centre and adjourned the matter until 4th November.
