A choirmaster and pastor, James Onuorah, has been convicted of raping a 16-year-old girl under the guise of praying to exorcise false evil spirits he claimed afflicted his victim.
Justice Chudi Nwankwo of Anambra State High Court 2, Ogidi Judicial Division, sentenced Onuorah to 25 years’ imprisonment for raping the unnamed girl and seven years’ imprisonment for offensive conduct.
The court heard that the convict, a choirmaster and church teacher at Iba Pope Parish, Awada, deceived the mother of the victim that all her daughters were possessed by ‘marine spirits and spiritual husbands’ and needed deliverance at his home.
Falling for the trick, their mother allowed her daughters to attend prayer sessions at the defendant’s residence at No. 8 Amanafor Street, Awada.
“Exploiting this position of spiritual authority, the defendant lured the 16-year-old victim to his altar. He ordered her to strip naked, claiming it was ‘the direction of the Holy Spirit’.
“He went further to collect her menstrual blood and ovulation discharge. He 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 in evidence,” according to the official account released by the prosecution.
It said Onuorah committed a similar act against the victim’s elder sister while the judgment was delivered on Friday, July 17.
The judge also awarded N5m in compensation to the victims, to be paid by the defendant.
