The Anambra State High Court 2, Ogidi Judicial Division, presided over by Justice Chudi Nwankwo, has convicted and sentenced James-Mary Onuorah to 25 years imprisonment for rape and seven years for offensive conduct under the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition and Protection) Law of Anambra State, 2017.
The court found Onuorah guilty of raping a 16-year-old girl after exploiting his position as a church teacher and choir master at a parish in Iba Pope, Awada.
According to evidence presented in court, the convict deceived the victim’s mother into believing that all her daughters were possessed by “marine spirits” and “spiritual husbands” and required spiritual deliverance at his residence. Trusting his claims, the mother allowed her daughters to attend prayer sessions at his home in Awada.
The court heard that Onuorah manipulated the teenage victim by ordering her to strip naked before an altar, claiming it was under the direction of the Holy Spirit. He also collected her menstrual blood and ovulation discharge before falsely telling her that a “spiritual husband” had caused fibroids in her womb and that the only cure was to have sexual intercourse with him.
The abuse resulted in the victim becoming pregnant. She later gave birth to a baby in April 2026, with hospital records admitted as evidence during the trial.
Although the defendant denied the allegations, including claims that he committed a similar offence against the victim’s elder sister, the court held that the prosecution proved the charges of rape and offensive conduct beyond reasonable doubt.
The court, however, rejected his confessional statement for failing to comply with Section 13 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Anambra State.
Angel Network News (ANN) reports that
Justice Nwankwo sentenced Onuorah to 25 years imprisonment for rape and seven years imprisonment for offensive conduct. The court also ordered him to pay ₦5 million in compensation to the victim.
