By Milcah Tanimu

In a disturbing case, a dismissed Catholic priest, Stephen Nwaigwe, has been remanded in prison custody for allegedly raping and impregnating a teenager in Anambra State. The Awka Chief Magistrates’ Court, designated as the Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court of Anambra State, issued the remand order during the court proceedings.

Nwaigwe, who was expelled by a prominent Catholic Faith-Based Religious Congregation in Orlu, Imo State, in 2018 for alleged misconducts detrimental to the church’s image, faces charges related to sexual assault against a minor. Despite his dismissal, Nwaigwe has continued to engage in religious activities, prompting concerns.

The victim, who encountered Nwaigwe at St. Albert The Great Catholic Church Parish in Obosi, Anambra State, alleges that the former priest took her from her parents when she was 14, promising to sponsor her education. Instead, she claims he subjected her to sexual abuse, resulting in pregnancy at the age of 17.

The victim further revealed that Nwaigwe took her to Benin City, Edo State, where she delivered the baby, but the child’s whereabouts remain unknown. During the remand proceedings, the police prosecutor argued that there was probable cause to order the remand of the former priest.

The defence counsel sought bail for the defendant, citing legal provisions, but the police prosecutor opposed, emphasizing the severity of the offence and the potential flight risk. The presiding Chief Magistrate ruled against bail, stating that the case involved a serious offence punishable with life imprisonment.

The court ordered the prosecutor to transmit the original case file to the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Anambra State, with the case adjourned to December 6, 2023, for a report of compliance. The case sheds light on the urgency of addressing sexual abuse cases, particularly those involving minors, and emphasizes the responsibility of institutions to safeguard vulnerable individuals.