Pastor arraigned for alleged defilement of five year old

The Ebonyi state police command on Friday arraigned a 45 year old man, Christopher Ebenyi for allegedly defiling a five year old pupil in Ebonyi state.

The defendant was said to have gone to the victim’s house to sell some immune booster drugs to her mother, when the incident took place.

The victim’s mother was said to have gone out to buy some items when Ebenyi allegedly took advantage of the girl.

The mother said, “When i got back home, i saw the pastor inserting his fingers in my daughter’s private parts. I shouted and he said it was the devil. I called people, who came around and beat him up. Eventually, he was arrested”.

The defendant confessed to the crime.

In his confessional statement, he said, “I am Pastor Christopher Ebenyi, i am from Eziulo in the Ishielu Local Government Area. I know the victim at Convent in Abakaliki. I got to their house and called her, she came and i touched her private parts”.

He was arraigned on one count of indecent assault before the Magistrates’ court.

The police prosecutor, ASP Mathias Eze, told the court that the offence was punishable under section 222 of the Criminal Code, Cap 33, Vol.1, Laws of Ebonyi state of Nigeria, 2009.

The counsel for the defendant, CF Ogbonnaya, applied for his bail, which the prosecuting counsel opposed on the grounds that he might run away.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Nnenna granted the defendant bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum.

According to Onuoha, the defendant must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court.

She adjourned the matter till January 28, 2021 for trial.