Choirmaster Jailed 25 Years for R@ping Teenager During Fake 'Deliverance' Sessions

The Anambra State High Court 2, Ogidi Judicial Division, has convicted and sentenced James Onuorah to 25 years' imprisonment for raping a 16-year-old girl and seven years' imprisonment for offensive conduct, in a case that exposed how he exploited his position as a church choirmaster to abuse a family that trusted him.

Justice Chudi Nwankwo, who presided over the case, found the defendant guilty on two of the three counts brought against him.

The judgment, delivered on Friday, July 17, followed proceedings under Charge No. HID/4C/2025 in the case between the State and James Mary Onuorah.

Onuorah, a choirmaster and church teacher at Iba Pope Parish, Awada, had been arraigned on a three-count charge of rape contrary to and punishable under Section 3(1)(a) & (2) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition and Protection) Law of Anambra State, 2017, alongside a charge of ‘offensive conduct contrary to and punishable under Section 7 of the same law,’ and a charge of ‘indecent assault (against the victim's elder sister), punishable under Section 255 of the Criminal Code Cap. 36, Revised Laws of Anambra State 1991.’

According to the charge sheet, prosecutors led by M.C. Ikeabunze, with Nkiru Nzekwu, told the court that ‘the defendant, a choirmaster and church teacher at Iba Pope Parish, Awada, deceived the mother of the victim that all her daughters were possessed by 'marine spirits and spiritual husbands' and needed deliverance at his home.’

‘Relying on this, the mother allowed her daughters to attend prayer sessions at the defendant's residence at No. 8 Amanafor Street, Awada,’ the charge sheet read.

Prosecutors said Onuorah then abused his spiritual authority over the family.

‘Exploiting this position of spiritual authority, the defendant lured the 16-year-old victim to his altar. He ordered her to strip naked, claiming it was 'the direction of the Holy Spirit'.’

The abuse escalated from there, according to the charge sheet.

‘He went further to collect her menstrual blood and ovulation discharge. He then had sexual intercourse with her, claiming that a 'spiritual husband' had caused fibroids in her womb and that the only cure was sex with him.’

The assaults left the teenager pregnant.

‘As a result, the victim became pregnant and delivered a baby in April 2026. Her hospital discharge receipt was tendered and admitted in evidence.’

Prosecutors also alleged Onuorah committed a similar act against the victim's elder sister, who testified as PW1, while the victim testified as PW4.

In all, four witnesses were called.

Onuorah denied the charges during cross-examination, and the court rejected his confessional statement for failing to comply with Section 13 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Anambra State.

After weighing the evidence, the court held that the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt, finding the victim's testimony ‘direct, consistent and unshaken under cross-examination.’

It also held that the circumstantial evidence, including the pregnancy and delivery, corroborated her account.

Justice Nwankwo convicted the defendant of rape and offensive conduct after holding that the prosecution proved the first and second counts beyond a reasonable doubt.

During sentencing, prosecutors urged the court to impose the mandatory life sentence prescribed under the Violence Against Persons Law and asked that the defendant be made to pay restitution to the victim for the injuries and losses she suffered.

Onuorah, for his part, pleaded in allocutus, urging the court to temper justice with mercy.

In his ruling, Justice Nwankwo sentenced the defendant to 25 years' imprisonment for r@pe and seven years' imprisonment for offensive conduct, with the sentences to run concurrently.

The judge also awarded N5m in compensation to the victim, payable by the defendant.

The court, however, discharged and acquitted Onuorah on the third count relating to the victim's elder sister, holding that the prosecution failed to prove the alleged 2014 incident because there was no report or complaint.