A Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Nwaigwe Stephen, has been reportedly remanded for allegedly raping and impregnating a teenage girl in Anambra.
He was remanded at the Correctional Center in the state by an Awka Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court in Anambra on Monday.
He was also accused of forcefully taking the pregnant teenager to Benin City, where she allegedly delivered the child.
News About Nigeria gathered that the suspect was among the priests that were expelled in 2018 from the Catholic Faith-Based Religious Congregation in Orlu, Imo State, popularly known as the “Two Hearts of Love Congregation” over alleged misconduct.
According to the victim, whose name was withheld, she started living with the priest who took her from her parents with the motive of sponsoring her education when she was 14 years old.
She also alleged that the priest started assaulting her days after she moved into his house and continued until he got her pregnant at the age of 17.
According to the teenager, when she informed the priest about her pregnancy, he allegedly took her from Ihiala in Anambra State to live in Benin City, where she later gave birth.
It was also gathered that police investigation, however, showed that the whereabouts of the child the victim delivered are still unknown.
The presiding Chief Magistrate, Genevieve Osakwe, has ordered the transfer of the original file of the case to the office of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Anambra State.
The case was thereby adjourned till the 6th of December, 2023, for further hearing.
