The State High Court sitting in Anambra, Ogidi has sentenced a church choirmaster and teacher, James Mary Onuorah, to 25 years in prison for raping a 16-year-old girl.
During the proceedings, Justice Chudi Nwankwo found the defendant guilty on two of the three counts brought against him.
The defendant was arraigned on a three-count charge of rape under Section 3(1)(a) and (2) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition and Protection) Law of Anambra State, 2017; offensive conduct under Section 7 of the same law; and indecent assault against the victim’s elder sister under Section 255 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 36, Revised Laws of Anambra State, 1991.
Following the hearings, Justice Chudi convicted Onuorah of rape and offensive conduct on Tuesday, also imposing a 7-year sentence for the second charge. After which Onuorah was further ordered to pay ₦5 million in compensation to the victim.
According to reports during the hearings, Onuorah, who served at Iba Pope Parish in Awada, told the victim’s mother that her daughters were possessed by “marine spirits” and needed deliverance. The mother allowed the girls to attend prayer sessions at his home.
However, in one of their sessions, Onuorah lured the 16-year-old to his altar, collected her bodily fluids under the guise of ritual, and sexually assaulted her.
The victim became pregnant and gave birth in April 2026. Hospital records and witness testimony corroborated the timeline, leading the court to find the prosecution’s case proven beyond reasonable doubt.
By Musekir Faisat Omolara
