- The convict was tried on three counts that bordered on raping the victim who is also a member of his church.
One Desmond Eke has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment for rape in Imo State.
The convict is the founder of Deliverance Ministry of the Good Shepherd, Umuehieta Avu, Owerri West Local Government Area of the State.
The victim is one of his church member’s wife.
He was sentenced and convicted by the state State High Court after he was found guilty of taking advantage of the woman who had reposed so much trust in him.
He was also said to have administered a stupefying substance on his victim which made her dizzy and weak.
The convict was tried on three counts that bordered on raping the victim who is also a member of his church.
According to the prosecution counsel, Chioma Emuka, it was while in the dizzy state that Eke took advantage of the woman who woke up to consciousness while he was still inside her.
Emuka said, “On inquiry on why he had to violate her, the pastor told the 25-year-old woman that his semen is holy enough to deliver her of the marine spirit that was disturbing her.”
While delivering the judgment, The presiding judge, Justice T. N . Nzeukwu held that Eke was guilty of the offences preferred against him.
The judge convicted Eke on count two of the charge of breaching trust and raping the woman but discharged him on the third count which bordered on inflicting injuries during the rape.
“Since the woman was not completely conscious during the incident, there was no way injuries could result since there was no resistance,“ Justice Nzeukwu held.
Before the sentence, the defence counsel pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy that his client had been of good behaviour having been present in court throughout the trial without jumping bail.
He pleaded that instead of a full sentence, his client should be put on probation.
It is gathered that this is the first case to be prosecuted under the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act in the state.
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