I was Raped By Pastor Joseph – Witness

By David Adejuwon

A witness, Mrs Tosin Adebayo revealed before an Osogbo Magistrate Court that she was raped by one Pastor Joseph Adeniyi.

She disclosed that the pastor gave her and her cousin, Gloria Adeoye, who were at the pastor’s house for prayer, ‘holy water’ to drink after which he ordered the younger sister to return to the car and the victim passed out.

The victim recalled that her younger sister upon regaining consciousness return to the room and found her naked with the pastor on top of her body having carnal knowledge of her body.

The 40 years-old Pastor was arraigned before the court on three count charges bothering on false pretence, fraud and stealing.

The prosecutor, Ayodele Oladiran told the court that the accused committed the offence sometimes July, 2017 in Osogbo.

Oladiran said the accused obtained the sum of N2,000,000 from the victim under the pretence to help her secure a loan to offset the debt she was owing.

He added that the accused person stole the stated sum of money belonging to the victims, adding that the offences contravene sections 419, 390 and 390(9) of the state criminal law.

The accused pleaded not guilty to charges preferred against him.

Defence counsel, Mr Oladipupo Tunbosun urged the court to admit the suspect to bail in the most liberal terms and the plea was granted by Magistrate Taofeeq Badmus in the sum of N1million.

However, his trial started immediately on the request of the prosecution counsel, who told the court that he has a witness in court.

The witness, who was also the victim, told the court that the pastor had requested her to buy him a Tecno phone, which she obliged and also gave him the sum of N30,000 for prayer warriors who were in charge of her spiritual problems.

She added that the pastor had been extorting her and took her to different mountain for prayer session which made her to believe in him and had trust in him until she found herself under him naked raping her.

The enrage victim said, “I will destroy your calling, your calling would be put to shame for doing this to me”.

She added that he was pleading with her and later some traditional rulers in Egbedore Local Government, whom he had confessed to sought amicable settlement.

She also told the court that the Pastor confessed to the sin to her distant brother who invited her to a church programme, where she met the Pastor.

However, the witness could not be cross examined as a result of time factor and the magistrate adjourned the matter till June 22, 2018 for continuation of trial.