Choirmaster gets 25-year jail term for assaulting teen member during ‘church deliverance’

An Anambra State High Court sitting in the Ogidi Judicial Division has sentenced James Onuorah to 25 years in prison after convicting him for assaulting a 16-year-old girl.

Justice Chudi Nwankwo, who presided over the case, found the defendant guilty on two of the three charges filed against him.

In addition to the 25-year jail term for the assault, the court sentenced him to another seven years’ imprisonment for offensive conduct.

Court documents in Charge No. HID/4C/2025, made available to our correspondent in Awka on Sunday, showed that the judgment was delivered on Friday, July 17, in the case between the State and James Mary Onuorah.

The defendant was arraigned on a three-count charge of, “Rape contrary to and punishable under Section 3(1)(a) & (2) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition and Protection) Law of Anambra State, 2017.

“Offensive conduct contrary to and punishable under Section 7 of the same Law.

“Indecent assault (against the victim’s elder sister) punishable under Section 255 of the Criminal Code Cap. 36, Revised Laws of Anambra State 1991.”

According to the charge sheet, the prosecution, led by M.C. Ikeabunze, with Nkiru Nzekwu, presented a case alleging abuse of trust.

The charge sheet read, “The defendant, a choir master and church teacher at Iba Pope Parish, Awada, deceived the mother of the victim that all her daughters were possessed by ‘marine spirits and spiritual husbands’ and needed deliverance at his home.

“Relying on this, the mother allowed her daughters to attend prayer sessions at the defendant’s residence at No. 8 Amanafor Street, Awada.

“Exploiting this position of spiritual authority, the defendant lured the 16-year-old victim to his altar. He ordered her to strip naked, claiming it was ‘the direction of the Holy Spirit’.

“He went further to collect her menstrual blood and ovulation discharge. He then had sexual intercourse with her, claiming that a ‘spiritual husband’ had caused fibroids in her womb and that the only cure was sex with him.

“As a result, the victim became pregnant and delivered a baby in April 2026. Her hospital discharge receipt was tendered and admitted in evidence.”

The prosecution also alleged that the defendant committed a similar act against the victim’s elder sister.

She testified as PW1, while the victim testified as PW4. In all, the prosecution called four witnesses.

During cross-examination, however, the defendant denied the charges, and the court rejected his confessional statement for failing to comply with Section 13 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Anambra State.

After evaluating the evidence, the court held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

The court found that the testimony of PW4, the victim, was direct, consistent and unshaken under cross-examination.

It also held that the circumstantial evidence, including the pregnancy and delivery, corroborated her account.

Justice Nwankwo held that the prosecution proved the first and second counts beyond reasonable doubt and convicted the defendant of rape and offensive conduct.

During the sentencing proceedings, the prosecution urged the court to impose the mandatory life sentence prescribed under the Violence Against Persons Law.

The prosecution also asked the court to order the defendant to pay restitution to the victim for the injuries and losses suffered.

The defendant, on his part, pleaded in allocutus and urged the court to temper justice with mercy.

In his ruling, Justice Nwankwo sentenced the defendant to 25 years’ imprisonment for rape and seven years’ imprisonment for offensive conduct. The sentences are to run concurrently.

The judge also awarded ₦5 million in compensation to the victim, to be paid by the defendant.

The court, however, discharged and acquitted the defendant on the third count relating to the victim’s elder sister after holding that the prosecution failed to prove the alleged 2014 incident due to the absence of a report or complaint.

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