Pastor gets life imprisonment for raping minor in Rivers

A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has convicted and sentenced a 39-year-old pastor, Justice Aniele, to life imprisonment for having unlawful carnal knowledge of a 14-year-old girl.

Aniele, a pastor with a pentecostal church in the state, is said to have raped his victim, an orphan kept under his care, and got her pregnant which led to the birth of a baby that later died.

The incident took place at Amaji community in Omuma Local Government Area of the state on 11 December 2017.

The trial judge, Justice Augusta Kingsley-Chukwu, in her judgment, found the accused guilty of the charges.

The court held that Aniele did not show any remorse for his actions, but attempted to abort the pregnancy more than once and threatened to kill the victim should she reveal the truth to anyone.

The offense is punishable under the Rivers State Child Right Law 2009.

Speaking to journalists outside the courtroom, the prosecution counsel, Lilian Franklin described the judgment as “well served”

Defence counsel however declined comments on the judgment.