A pastor identified as Justice Aniele, 39, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt for having unlawful carnal knowledge of a 14-year-old girl.
Aniele, a pastor with a pentecostal church in the state, is said to have raped his victim, an orphan kept under his care, and got her pregnant which led to the birth of a baby that later died.
The incident happened on December 11, 2017, at Amaji community in Omuma Local Government Area of the state.
Justice Augusta Kingsley-Chukwu, the trial judge, in her judgment, found the accused guilty of all charges leveled against him.
According to the court, Aniele did not show any remorse for his actions, but attempted to abort the pregnancy more than once and threatened to kill the victim should she reveal the truth to anyone.
The offense is punishable under the Rivers State Child Right Law 2009.
Speaking to journalists outside the courtroom, the prosecution counsel, Lilian Franklin described the judgment as “well served”
Aniele’s Defense counsel however declined comments on the judgment.
EFCC Arrests Former Edo Governor, Lucky Igbinedion Over N1.6bn fraud
