POLICE in Anambra State have commenced investigation into an alleged rape of a housewife in Umuchu town by the pastor of a white garment church who happens to be her brother-in-law. 

In one of the first such cases of its kind, officers from the Anambra State Criminal Investigation Department in Awka, the state capital, are investigating the sexual assault, which apparently took place in a farmland in Umuchu in Aguata Local Government Area. So far, investigations reveal that the white garment prophet who has been accused is the elder brother to the victim’s husband. 

Police began the investigation following a petition written by a non-governmental organisation (NGO) known as Human Rights Awareness Initiative and Road Safety on behalf of the victim. In the petition sent to the Anambra State Police Commissioner, the victim, Mrs Chinasa Okoronkwo, alleged that Prophet Pius Okoronkwo raped her in a farmland after she escaped incessant sexual harassment by him. 

Pastor Okoronkwo, who is the founder of Covenant Sabbath Mission Yaweh Church, denied the allegation and said it was a ploy to blackmail him after sponsoring the marriage between the victim and his younger brother. Chinasa admitted that he was one of those who sponsored the marriage but said he had another motive for sponsoring the traditional wedding.

 She said her ordeal started after their traditional marriage when Pastor Okoronkwo approached her and said that despite the fact that he married her to his brother, the job of impregnating her will be his responsibility. Chinasa said that despite the fact her husband is poor, she refused such demands because her husband was alive and fit to impregnate her. 

According to Chinasa, the harassment continued until the clergyman allegedly raped her in the farmland while threatening to kill her if she refused. She said she had to seek the help of the human rights NGO to seek for justice as after Pastor Okoronkwo raped her, he used his influence to get some people to chase her away from her matrimonial home to cover his tracks. 

Human Rights Awareness Initiative and Road Safety spokesman Comrade Gilbert Obinwa, said the woman came to their office and they had to write the petition to the commissioner of police. He added that what happened to the woman was height of injustice and asked the police to investigate the allegation and prosecute the offenders. 

Comrade Obinwa noted that there was a grand conspiracy to ill-treat the woman because her husband was a peasant farmer and could not do anything. A police source said that after investigations, if a case of rape was established, the prophet would be prosecuted.