From Jefferson Ibiwale, Benin

A magistrate court in Ekiadolor, Edo State, has sentenced a 42-year-old man, Uwen Friday, to five years in jail with hard labour for defiling a 12-year-old.

Friday, who is also pastors a pentecostal assembly, was said to have raped his victim at a farm in Okokhuo village, Ovia northeast local government area of the state.

The rape allegedly resulted to a five month pregnancy.

The accused pleaded guilty to the one-count charge of unlawful sexual intercourse and was consequently sentenced to five years imprisonment with hard labour by the presiding magistrate, F.I Oghoator, without an option of fine.

In a related case, one Samson Odeyemi, has been arraigned at an Iguobazuwa Magistrate Court for allegedly raping a married woman.

Odeyemi who is also a clergyman, was said to have raped his victim at a river side where he had taken her to for spiritual cleansing.

Although the woman claimed she was forcefully raped on May 14, she did not inform anyone including her husband about the incident until her children began to take ill.

It was learnt that the incident became public knowledge when the victim’s children started falling ill and the husband was told to ask his wife what she did.

She then opened up and her confession led to the pastor’s arrest.

Odeyemi however, pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge and the magistrate, I. U Iyioha, granted him bail and adjourned the case to July 10.