Pastor sentenced to life imprisonment for raping 16-year-old girl

Pastor Favour Maxy Okoise, the General Overseer of Refiners Fire Global Assembly, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a 16-year-old girl, described as his “spiritual daughter,” in Calabar, Cross River State.

The verdict was delivered at the Family Court of the Cross River State Customary Court of Appeal by Hon. Justice Blessing Egwu Obin, following a case pursued by Gender and Development Action (GADA).

According to reports, the victim arrived in Calabar in August 2016 for her Post UTME examination and was living with her elder sister on Goldie Street when the pastor started visiting regularly for spiritual teachings.

She revealed that he sexually harassed her several times before manipulating her into believing that “God needed her body as much as her spirit and soul,” claiming he could transfer spiritual virtues through intercourse.

After reviewing the evidence, cross-examinations, and exhibits, the court found Pastor Okoise guilty of having unlawful carnal knowledge of the minor.

Citing the Cross River State Child Protection Law of 2003, Justice Obin sentenced him to life imprisonment and ordered him to pay ₦1 million in compensation to the survivor.

Reacting to the ruling, one of the prosecuting counsels and lawyer for GADA, Barrister Doris Nduanusi, praised the judgment and called for more activism and public awareness to tackle such crimes, stressing that offenders would face the full consequences of their actions.