Pastor Israel Adebayo has been arrested by men of the Ogun State Police Command for allegedly defiling a 14-year-old choir member of his church (name withheld).
The 38-year-old pastor is the General Overseer of “The Beloved Chapel”, situated at No 9, Iyaniwura Street, off Owonikoko Street Agbado area of Ogun State.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, stated these in a release, AZ:5310/OGS/PRO/VOL.7/147. 04/09/2022.
According to the release, the pastor was arrested following a complaint lodged at Agbado Divisional Police Headquarters by the mother of the victim.
The mother of the victim reported that, while she traveled to treat herself of certain ailment, her daughter who happened to be a choir member, went to church.
The lustful pastor subsequently lured the victim into his room and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her.
Oyeyemi stated that, upon the report, the DPO, Agbado Division, detailed his detectives to the scene where the pastor was promptly arrested.
“On interrogation, the pastor who admitted defiling the victim pleaded for forgiveness.
“According to the pastor, his family and that of the victim are so close, but he didn’t know how and why such thing happened to him.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect would have been arrested long ago, but the mother of the victim frustrated the move because she doesn’t want to offend her pastor.
“But when the victim is continously bleeding from her private part since the incident, which happened October 2021, she was left with no other option than to allow police come into the matter.
“The victim who claimed that the pastor was the first person to sleep with her is currently recuperating in an hospital,” the Ogun Police image-maker stated.
Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Bankole has ordered the transfer of the case to State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation and possible prosecution.
He also warned parents to stop the habit of covering up anybody who indecently assaulted their daughters, no matter how close they are to such persons.
The Ogun Commissioner of Police further warned that any parent caught in such an act may also be liable for prosecution for compounding felony.
