An Anambra State High Court in Ogidi has convicted and sentenced a choirmaster, James Onuorah, to 25 years' imprisonment for raping and impregnating a 16-year-old girl during a deliverance session. The court also sentenced him to seven years for offensive conduct, with the sentences to run concurrently. Additionally, the judge awarded N5 million in compensation to the victim, to be paid by the defendant.
Court Proceedings and Charges
The judgement was delivered on Friday, 17 July, in a case where Mr Onuorah was the sole defendant. He was arraigned on a three-count charge of rape and offensive conduct. The prosecution, led by M.C. Ikeabunze and Nkiru Nzekwu, argued that the rape was contrary to Section 3(1)(a) & (2) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition and Protection) Law of Anambra State, 2017, and the offensive conduct contravened Section 7 of the same law.
Details of the Offence
The prosecution told the court that the defendant, a choir master and church teacher at Iba Pope Catholic Parish in Awada near Onitsha, deceived the victim's mother into believing that all her daughters were possessed by 'marine spirits and spiritual husbands' and needed deliverance at his home. Relying on this, the mother allowed her daughters to attend prayer sessions at the defendant's residence at No. 8 Amanafor Street, Awada.
Exploiting his spiritual authority, the defendant lured the 16-year-old victim to his altar, ordered her to strip naked claiming it was 'the direction of the Holy Spirit', collected her menstrual blood and ovulation discharge, and then had sexual intercourse with her, claiming that a 'spiritual husband' had caused fibroids in her womb and that the only cure was sex with him. As a result, the victim became pregnant and delivered a baby in April 2026. Her hospital discharge receipt was tendered and admitted as evidence.
Trial and Witness Testimonies
The prosecution also alleged that the defendant committed a similar act against the victim's elder sister, who testified as Prosecution Witness 1 (PW1). The victim testified as PW4. In total, the prosecution called four witnesses. During cross-examination, the defendant denied committing the offences.
Judgement and Sentencing
Delivering judgement, the trial judge, Chudi Nwankwo, held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. He found that the victim's testimony was 'direct, consistent and unshaken under cross-examination.' The court ruled that circumstantial evidence, including the pregnancy and delivery, corroborated the victim's account.
The trial judge convicted the defendant of rape and offensive conduct on the first and second counts but discharged and acquitted him on the third count, which alleged he raped the victim's elder sister in 2014, due to lack of evidence.
During sentencing, the prosecution urged the court to impose the mandatory life sentence prescribed under the Violence Against Persons Law and to order restitution. The defendant pleaded for mercy. Justice Nwankwo sentenced the defendant to 25 years for rape and seven years for offensive conduct, to run concurrently, and awarded N5 million compensation to the victim.
