The General Overseer of the Beloved Chapel, Pastor Israel Adebayo, has been detained by members of the Ogun State Police Command for allegedly defiling a 14-year-old member of his church at Agbado, Ifo Local Government Area of the State.
This was revealed in a statement released on Sunday by the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, who also said the 38 years old Pastor Israel Adebayo, who is the General Overseer of The Beloved Chapel, 9, Iyaniwura street, off Owonikoko street, Agbado area of Ogun state, was arrested following a complaint lodged at Agbado Divisional Headquarters, by the mother of the girl.
Oyeyemi said the mother noted that her daughter was a choir member in the church, adding that the pastor lured her into his room and allegedly had carnal knowledge of her against her will.
“The surviving mother reported that while she traveled to treat herself of a certain ailment, her daughter who happened to be a choir member in their church, went to Church and the pastor lured her into his room and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her.
“Upon the report, DPO Agbado division, detailed detectives to the scene where the Pastor was promptly arrested.
“On interrogation, the Pastor, who admitted defiling the victim, pleaded for forgiveness.
“According to him, his family and that of the victim are so close, but he didn’t know how and why such a thing happened to him.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect would have been arrested long ago, but the mother of the victim frustrated the move because she did not want to offend her pastor. But when the victim was continuously bleeding from her private parts since the incident which happened in October 2021, she was left with no other option than to inform the police.
“The victim who claimed that the pastor was the first person to sleep with her is currently recuperating in a hospital,” he added.
Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police, Mr. Lanre Bankole, has ordered the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department(SCIID), for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The CP also warned parents to stop the habit of covering anybody who indecently assaulted their daughters no matter how close they are to such persons as they too may be liable for prosecution for compounding felony.
