Police in Delta have arrested the Founder/General Overseer of Victory Revival Fasting and Prayer Ministry, Bishop Elijah Orhonigbe, for allegedly raping a 19-year-old girl within his church hall in Warri.
The cleric is said to have drugged his victim on May 20 before allegedly committing the act during a deliverance session inside the church hall.
Area Commander, Mohammed Garba, told newsmen on Monday that the cleric was arrested on June 5 following complaint by the victim’s mother.
Mr Garba explained that the mother is a member of the church where the girl was allegedly raped, adding that medical examination carried out on the victim showed evidence of rape.
“She said the pastor had a dream that death is hovering in their house and for peace to reign, she should bring her daughter for prayers. And the woman took the lady to the church,” he said.
“I think what really happened is that the pastor drugged that lady and raped her. I personally took the lady to the hospital because she was in coma for two days.
“We looked for this pastor for the past two weeks. Later on, I used my detectives to trace where he hid. I got him arrested and I am charging him to Court now.
“We have evidence to prove rape and we have established that this pastor has raped that girl. We have the pictures. We have examined her. I took her to the doctor. He has examined her private parts and we have everything to charge this man to court.”
Garba denied claims that the police are seeking bribe for the preacher’s release.
While being led to court, Bishop Orhonigbe denied raping the girl whose name has been withheld.
“She came to church on that fateful day, May 20. The mother brought her to the church for deliverance and I prayed for her in front of the altar in the presence of three persons.
“Immediately after the prayer, she left the church around 12. She came back 5 o’clock with policemen and crowd saying ‘this is the man’. If not, I did not rape her,” he said.
