Lagos Pastor Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Sexual Assault of Church Member's Daughter
A 63-year-old Lagos-based pastor, Chris Douglas, has been sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a church member's daughter. The Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja delivered the judgment on Thursday, April 16, with Justice Rahman Oshodi ruling that the cleric abused his spiritual position and the trust placed in him by the victim and her family.
Court Details Abuse of Trust and Spiritual Authority
According to the court, Douglas, who leads Peculiar Generation Assembly Church in Oshodi, used his role as a spiritual leader to take advantage of the young woman, who saw him as a father figure. Describing the act as a serious betrayal, Justice Oshodi stated that the convict occupied a position of spiritual authority and was regarded as a father figure by the victim and her family, but still went on to abuse that trust. The court heard that the abuse took place on different occasions in a hotel, while the victim and her family depended on the pastor for guidance and counselling.
Justice Oshodi also noted the heavy emotional damage suffered by the victim, including depression and repeated suicidal thoughts as a result of the assault. During the trial, prosecutors called several witnesses, such as the victim, her mother, and a medical doctor, and presented medical and documentary evidence to support the case. The victim testified that the pastor first drugged her before assaulting her in September 2017, expressing her shock and betrayal by someone she trusted as a spiritual father.
Mother's Testimony and Court's Rejection of Defence
The victim's mother testified that she confronted the cleric after learning about the incident, recalling that he cried and blamed the devil while begging in front of church elders. The prosecution reported the matter to the police, a human rights group, and the Mirabel Centre for medical checks. Although Douglas denied the allegations and claimed the relationship was consensual, the court rejected his defence, ruling that the evidence clearly proved rape beyond reasonable doubt.
Justice Oshodi reviewed all evidence presented, dismissing parts of the defence arguments under the Evidence Act but upholding key medical testimony. While some earlier claims were not fully proven, the court found him guilty on three counts of rape, discharging him on other charges of defilement and sexual assault. He was sentenced to life imprisonment on each count, with all sentences to run concurrently, and the court ordered his inclusion on the Lagos State Sexual Offenders Register.
Broader Context and Related Church Incidents
The judge emphasized that the justice system must protect vulnerable people and will not hesitate to punish abuse of trust in strong terms. In a related development, a member of Jesus Is Ontop Ministry in Anambra, Chigozie Onyemechi, has spoken on allegations against a pastor accused of impregnating a 16-year-old girl brought for deliverance, expressing disbelief over the claims. Additionally, Pastor Lazarus Muoka of The Lord's Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries previously warned church members against using social media for dancing and frivolous content, urging them to focus on preaching the gospel instead.
