By Jethro Ibileke
Justice A. N. Erhabor of Edo State High Court, Benin, on Thursday ordered the remand of a 38-year-old Pastor, Simeon Okehielem, for allegedly raping and impregnating a housewife, Mrs Isoken Vivian Aigbedo.
The suspect, who is the Pastor of the Synagogue Prayers Ministry, was accused of engaging in sexual relationships with several married women within his congregation.
The charges against Okehielem followed an incident that occurred in 2022 in Uholor Community, Benin City, where the cleric allegedly drugged and raped the woman that resulting in the birth of a child.
The Prosecution Counsel, P.O. Odion, told the Court that the alleged offence occurred in February 2022.
Okehielem was slammed with a two-count charge on alleged rape and administering a stupefying substance with the intent to commit a felony.
The charge sheet, marked Suit No: BLOD/2323M/2025, reads: “That you, Okehielem Simeon ‘m’, in or about February 2022, in Benin City within the Benin Criminal Division, did rape one Mrs Isoken Vivian Aigbedo and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 4, punishable under Section 5(1) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2021.
“That you, Okehielem Simeon ‘m’, in or about February 2022, in Benin City within the Benin Criminal Division, with intent to commit a felony, administered a substance to stupefy one Mrs Isoken Vivian Aigbedo, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 256 of the Criminal Law of Edo State, 2022.”
A recent DNA result reportedly confirmed him as the biological father of the child, which prompted the Nigerian Police to rearrest and formally arraign him.
Justice Erhabor granted an ex parte order to remand the suspect at the Benin Correctional Centre for 14 days, pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Ministry of Justice, Edo State.
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