Time was when clergymen commanded great respect across the country. To be a man of the cloak was to be treasured and held up as a model for the society, a moral and spiritual guide. Along with teachers, men of the clergy were treated like royalty, in large part because of the roles of religious institutions in establishing schools and hospitals, and training generation of students before and after Nigeria’s independence. Today, with a few exceptions, identifying as a Reverend or Imam is not regarded as evidence of moral rectitude, thanks to the dastardly experiences of Nigerians with many self-proclaimed religious leaders. Apparently, those who believe that the so-called clergymen aren’t significantly different from the ordinary person on the street will have had their thesis further confirmed by the extremely disturbing story of one Pastor Desmond Eke, who was, this week, handed an eight-year sentence by Justice T. N Nzeukwu of the Imo State High Court for raping his church member’s wife! Eke, the founder of the Deliverance Ministry of the Good Shepherdan outfit located at Umuehieta Avu in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State, was found guilty of taking advantage of the victim, who held him in high esteem. The convict was tried on three counts bordering on raping the victim, a member of his church, after administering a substance on her that made her dizzy and weak.

According to the prosecution counsel, Chioma Emuka, the victim was in a helpless state when Eke took advantage of her. She would, on regaining consciousness, later discover to her horror that someone other than her husband was having carnal knowledge of her. Said Emuka: “On why he had to violate her, the pastor told the 25-year-old woman that his semen was holy enough to deliver her from the marine spirit that was disturbing her.” Delivering judgment, Justice Nzeukwu convicted Eke on two counts, namely breach of trust and rape, but discharged him on the third count, which bordered on inflicting injuries during the rape. His reasoning was that since the woman was not completely conscious and therefore put up no resistance during the incident, injuries could not have resulted. And speaking on the verdict, Marjorie Ezihe, the convener of Onurube, the civil society organisation to which the matter had been reported and which had taken it up, lauded the court for convicting the pastor, affirming that the convicti, the first under the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act in the state, would serve as a deterrent to would-be offenders.

To say the least, this case presents yet another instance of the criminal betrayal of trust by those in positions of authority in the society. It is despicable and utterly reprehensible that a clergyman, of all people, would violate a member of his flock with such cruelty, not caring a hoot about her dignity as a person, her family, which is bound to be put under strain, and the sacred institution of marriage. In slaking his depraved lust, Pastor Eke immobilised the victim as it were, thus eroding whatever form of resistance she could have put up. He treated her worse than even an animal should have been treated, and it seems sufficiently clear that the eight-year sentence handed down to him is rather lenient. People who subject innocent people to such horror deserve to live the rest of their lives behind bars, but we acknowledge that at the very least, justice has been done in this case, and Pastor Eke will carry the tag of criminal conviction for the rest of his life.

It Is no longer news that many of the so-called respected clergymen in the country have made themselves demigod over their members, treating them like trash. In many cases, although apparently not in this case, the clergymen even brainwash their members to accept horrendous indignities, and they also allegedly deploy their deep connections to hound naysayers within their fold using corrupt security agents. We hope that this case sends a signal to those larger-than-life criminals that their rampant criminality will attract a just recompense some day. We also urge victims of sexual assault to always tell their story and not be cowed by the social stigma that victims often experience in this part of the world. A victim, any victim, deserved sympathy, not vilification, and if victims bottle up their stories because of “what people might say,” they may be inadvertently helping criminals to escape punishment. Rapists, regardless of their position in society, deserve to be named, shamed, and jailed. They do not deserve to be given the opportunity to commit further crimes. That would be disastrous for society. (Nigerian Tribune Editorial)

Update news