An Abakaliki Magistrate Court on Tuesday ordered the remand of one Onyeagoziri Ndubueze, who identifies as a bishop, at the Abakaliki Correctional Centre over the alleged sexual abuse of a 22-year-old female member of his church.
Chief Magistrate Nike Chima gave the order after rejecting a bail application filed by the defendant’s lawyer, Friday Agbom.
Chima explained that the court lacked the jurisdiction to grant bail in the case and directed that the case file be sent to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for further advice.
She adjourned the matter till November 4 for hearing.
Ndubueze was arraigned by the police on a four-count charge bordering on threats to life, falsehood, fraud, and the circulation of pornographic photographs of the alleged victim.
According to the prosecutor, Catherine Ajibo, the accused person, sometime in 2021 at Mile 50 Layout, Abakaliki, unlawfully had carnal knowledge of the woman.
Ajibo told the court that Ndubueze allegedly obtained the woman’s consent through threats, deceit, and fraudulent means — acts she said contravened Section 358 of the Criminal Code, Cap 33, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State.
She added that the offence also violates Section 20 (1) of the Ebonyi State Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law 2024 (as amended).
