A Lagos State Special Offences and Domestic Violence Court, Ikeja has sentenced a-63-year-old cleric, Chris McDouglas Omoksopea to life imprisonment for raping ‘spiritual’ daughter.
This follows his conviction by the trial judge, Justice Rahman Oshodi
The judge held that not only was the victim raped, but the action caused her significant psychological harm.
Douglas, is a pastor in charge of Peculiar Generation Assembly Church, Oshodi in Lagos.
In his judgement, the judge held that the convict who was regarded as a “spiritual father,” abused his position of authority and trust to exploit the victim, who was 18 years old at the time of the incident.
According to the judge, the prosecution established that the abuse took place in an hotel where he took the victim to on several occasion.
The judge noted that the victim and her family had relied on the cleric for guidance and support.
But rather than uphold that trust, the court found that he repeatedly violated the victim.
Leading the prosecution Dr. Babajide Martins and the defendant counsel, Yusuf Temilola Nurudeen called 10 witnesses.
Five witnesses which included the victim, her mother and medical doctor testified for the prosecution with necessary documents tendered and admitted as exhibits.
During the trial, it was revealed that the victim suffered depression and experienced recurring suicidal thoughts, pointing to the lasting emotional damage caused by the incident.
The victim’s mother in her testimony told the court that she confronted the cleric at his church after discovering what had happened.
She disclosed that the cleric cried and apologised in the presence of some elders present at the meeting and called it work of the Devil.
The matter was reported to the human rights group, and later to Makinde Police Station, and then refer to Mirabel Centre for medical test.
The complainant gave a detailed account of an initial incident in September 2017, describing how she was allegedly drugged and raped.
Her testimony was supported by her mother, who observed physical distress shortly after the incident.
However, the defendant denied the allegations and said the victim consented to sex.
But the court rejecting claims that the relationship was consensual, the judge held the victim testimony which was corroborated by the medical doctor testimony.
The court scrutinised testimonial, medical and electronic evidence presented by the prosecution, alongside objections raised by the defence under the Evidence Act 2011.
The defence had urged the court to reject a medical report and related police referral documents, arguing non-compliance with statutory provisions.
The court agreed in part, holding that certain documents were improperly admitted and should be discountenanced.
However, the court held that the oral testimony of the medical expert, Dr. Maria Fadaka, remained admissible and could stand independently.
The judge noted that while the complainant alleged abuse at the church, she did not provide specific instances occurring before January 2018.
As a result, the court held it could not conclude that any such acts took place while she was still legally a child, that is before 18 years.
The court found credible and corroborated evidence supporting allegations of rape in an hotel in 2018.
The court therefore said prosecution failed to prove six counts bordering on defilement and sexual assult, and found the defendant guilty of rape.
The court therefore sentenced him to life imprisonment on each of the three count charge he was guilty of.
The judge ordered that his sentence will run concurrently.
He also ordered that his name be entered in the sexual offences register as maintain by Lagos State Government.
