A pastor in charge of Life and Power Bible Church, Mathew Oladapo, is currently in Police custody for allegedly having unlawful carnal knowledge of a 19-year-old member of the church after claiming she needs deliverance from a spiritual husband.
The Ogun State Police Spokesperson, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, who disclosed this development, said that the suspect was arrested following a report lodged at Ogijo Divisional Headquarters by the victim.
The victim told the Police that during the church service on Sunday, the pastor told her that he saw a vision that she had a spiritual husband and needed to be delivered.
According to her, he said she would undergo three nights of fasting and prayer in the church for total deliverance. In addition, she was asked to come with a 1,000 naira note and anointing oil.
“On the first night of the fasting and prayer, she was taken to a room within the church where the pastor ordered her to pull off her clothes and undies and lay down on a piece of cloth on the floor which she obeyed.
“While lying on the floor, the pastor started rubbing the anointing oil on her body and inserted his finger into her private part.
“When she protested, the pastor pinned her down, covered her mouth, and forcefully had sex with her with the claim that it is the only way to break the bond between her and the spirit husband,” he said.
DSP Oyeyemi added that the suspect confessed to the crime but claimed to have been overwhelmed by the spirit.
Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Bankole, has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspect to the Anti-human Trafficking and Child Labour Unit of the State Criminal Investigation And Intelligence Department for further investigation and diligent prosecution.
