Court Remands Bishop Over Alleged Sex With Sickle Cell Lady To Cure Her

A magistrate court sitting in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, has remanded a popular bishop, Samuel Onyeagoziri Ndubueze, in Abakaliki correctional facility for allegedly having carnal knowledge of a 22-year-old female church member.

Ndubueze, who is the general overseer of Champions of Truth Cathedral, was accused by the lady, Euphemia Ede, of having sex with her for seven days to change her SS genotype and cure her of sickle cell disease.

The bishop who was arrested by the police following the allegation has been in custody at the state police headquarters, Abakaliki, for four weeks.

He was arraigned yesterday before a magistrate court on a four-count charge involving threats to life, falsehood, fraudulent act and the circulation of pornographic photos of the lady.

The prosecutor, Catherine Ajibo, told the court that the defendant had, sometime in 2021 at Mile 50 Layout, Abakaliki, had unlawful carnal knowledge of the victim.

Ajibo said the offence is punishable under section 20 (1) of Ebonyi State Violence Against Persons Prohibited Law 2018, 2009 and 2015 as amended in 2024.

She said that the defendant obtained the consent of the lady by means of threats and false and fraudulent representation and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 358 of the Criminal Code Cap 33, Vol. 1, Law of Ebonyi State of Nigeria

Friday Agbom, the defence counsel prayed the court for bail, which was rejected.

Mrs Nkechi Chima, the Chief Magistrate, Court 2 Abakaliki, rejected the bail application, noting that the court lacks jurisdiction to handle the case.

Chima also ordered the transfer of the original case file, evidence, and all documents on the matter to the Department of Public Prosecution for further action.

The Magistrate, therefore, remanded the defendant in the correctional centre and adjourned the case to 4th November.