I slept with a 17-year-old, says pastor found with 13 girls

General Overseer of Tongue of Fire Restoration Ministry, Chukwuemeka Nwocha, was Friday paraded before journalists by the police in Lagos for allegedly 13 under aged girls as sex slaves in a three-bedroom harem in Lagos.

According to the 36-year-old, his journey to custody started when the children in his church, located in Igbosere, Lagos said they would like to visit him.

He said, “I only tried to help the girls. When the first girl came, she said she did not have anywhere to go. I did not know her parents. I am a pastor and I felt pity for her. After spending three days, I told her she needed to go out and bring some of her relations so that they would know where she was. But she did not.

“Later, some parents in my church also said they would like to send their children to live with me. Some of them came to spend holidays after their exam.”

He insisted the parents knew the children were in his house. But after telling stories that  diverted attention from allegations that he raped the girls and had also forced some of them to do abortions, he paused and shook his head.

“I am a pastor; the devil only used the children against me. I did not rape them. I only slept with Sola (not real name). She is my girlfriend and we actually planned to marry.

When asked how old the girl he mentioned was, he said she was about to clock 17.

He added: “I know it is not right to sleep with under aged girls, but as human being, anything can happen to man. Everything is devil’s work because I believe no man is perfect.

“The abortion carried out for one of the girls was done by one of my pastor friends, Steven. I travelled out of Lagos.

“The only girl that carried out abortion is Nosa. She called me with Pastor Steven’s phone that he took her to the hospital to carry out the abortion.

“The matter about abortion was reported to me when I was in the village to bury my father. Immediately, I came back.

“Both Pastor Steven and Nosa came to my church where I tongue lashed the pastor for their immoral act.

“It was the same girl I was supporting that came and reported me to the police of trying to rape her. I am not happy.

“If only God can give me a second chance to repent from my sin, I would be grateful to Him because I knew I have offended almighty God seriously.

“I know He is a merciful God.”

Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Fatai Owoseni, had said that the pastor harboured the girls with the promise of paying their school fees, feeding them and buying gifts for them.

“While they were in his house, three of them became pregnant and he took them for abortions. He first denied all the allegations but like all criminals, he later confessed to raping them without using protection,” the Mr Owoseni said.

The CP has said Nwocha would be prosecuted along with whoever conspired with him to commit the alleged crime.