Olamide Sobowale, a 46-year-old pastor of Glory Church of Christ Aladura, Oke-Itoku, Abeokuta, Ogun State, has been remanded in prison for allegedly raping a woman while bathing in his church backyard.
Pastor Sobowale, who was arraigned before a Magistrate Court sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta, yesterday, was accused of raping one Dupe Makinde, 30, who lives in Isaje, Abeokuta, while taking a spiritual bath allegedly recommended by the pastor.
Paul Etusi, the prosecuting counsel told the court that the accused grabbed the complainant while she was in a bathroom within the church premises and raped her.
Etusi said the complainant had already put soap on her face as she began bathing when the pastor suddenly entered the bathroom, grabbed and raped her with soap on her face.
According to Etusi, the accused had told Mrs. Makinde that he had a vision about the her and asked her to come for deliverance in his church.
“He asked the woman to come to the church to take a spiritual bath for her deliverance, but, while the complainant was taking her bath, the accused barged into the bathroom, grabbed the woman and raped her,” said Etusi.
“The accused has committed an offence contrary to section 357 and punishable under section 358 of criminal code of law of Ogun State, Nigeria, 2006.”
After listening to the prosecuting counsel, Magistrate A. Araba ordered that the accused be remanded in prison till he gets advice from the Director of Public Prosecution.
The case was adjourned and we are expecting to hear the outcome. We must not allow religion to be used as an excuse to perpetrate evil.
