Nigerian Pastor Sentenced to 14 Years Imprisonment Over Prostitution

Grave yard silence enveloped the federal high court in Ikeja, Lagos, today (Thursday 6th October, 2011) as the General Overseer of Christ Redemption Apostolic Church, Pastor Eunice Owoyele and her accomplice, Mariam Mohammed, were both sentenced to 14 years imprisonment with hard labour and without an option of fine. 

The 40-year old female pastor whose church is situated at No. 15 Olaoye Ogunyemi Street in the Ikorodu area of Lagos, was arraigned on a three-count charge of Organising foreign travels for young girls for Prostitution abroad, Procurement for Prostitution and Deceitful Inducement to go from place to place, contrary to section 15a, 16 and 19b of the NAPTIP Act. 

Trouble started for Pastor Eunice when... 

an 18 years old girl (names withheld) who she allegedly lured to Libya with promises of good job arrived the country only to discover that she has been shipped out of Nigeria for prostitution. The girl called and complained to her mother about the strange development. Consequently, the mother took the matter to NAPTIP which in turn contacted the Nigerian embassy in Libya to repatriate the teenager. 

During the court hearing, when he discovered that it was a bad case for his client, lawyer to the convicted pastor, Mr. R.O. Akande, pleaded with the judge to temper justice with mercy and give Pastor Eunice an option of fine. But Justice Stephen Jonah-Adah declined on the grounds that the act under which the accused person was convicted did not make any provision for fine. 

You may wish to know that the National Assembly, only recently, resolved to strengthen the Nations laws against human trafficking and child labour.