A Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Nwaigwe Stephen from Anambra state, has been arrested and detained over allegations of raping and impregnating a teenager. The Anambra State Chief Magistrates’ Court, designated as the Children, Sexual, and Gender-Based Violence Court, ordered his imprisonment until December 6, 2023.
The magistrate directed the prosecutor to send the case file to the office of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Anambra State.
Aside from the rape accusations, the priest is accused of taking the pregnant minor forcibly to Benin City, where she gave birth. The baby’s whereabouts remain unknown, according to police investigations.
The priest’s engagement in sexual intercourse with a minor is an offense under section 34(2) of the Child’s Rights Law of Anambra State, 2004.
Nwaigwe had previously been expelled from the Two Hearts of Love Congregation (Ugwu Nso), a renowned Catholic Faith-Based Religious Congregation in Orlu, Imo State, in 2018 due to alleged misconduct.
The victim, speaking during court proceedings, revealed that the priest took her in when she was 14, promising to sponsor her education while she served as his cook. She alleged that he began sexually assaulting her soon after, resulting in her pregnancy at 17.
Furthermore, she recounted how the priest took her to Benin City, introduced her to a man and woman as his relatives, where she gave birth under unclear circumstances, being informed later that the baby had died and been buried.
The minor refuted claims of being gang-raped except by the priest and highlighted that the priest instructed her to fabricate a gang-rape story.
During remand proceedings, the police prosecutor supported the remand order, while the defense counsel sought bail for the defendant, citing various legal provisions. However, the court denied bail due to the gravity of the offense and the vulnerability of the victim.
Chief Magistrate Genevieve Osakwe expressed concern over the rising cases of rape against minors, emphasizing the seriousness of the offense and adjourned the case to December 6, 2023.
