CRIMINAL PROSECUTION 28/03/2023
Pastor Accused of Defiling Member’s Daughter to File No-Case Submission
A Lagos Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court sitting in Ikeja on Monday heard how a pastor, Chris Mcdouglas, allegedly defiled a 17-year-old daughter of a member of his church.
A medical doctor, Mrs Maria Fadaka, told the court while testifying in the ongoing trial of Mcdouglas, a pastor at Peculiar Generation Assembly Church, Lagos.
The defendant is facing a nine-count charge of defilement and sexual assault by penetration, preferred against him by the Lagos State Government.
He, however, pleaded not guilty, to the charges when he was arraigned.
Fadaka, a public health officer at Mirabel Medical Centre, (a sexual assault referral centre), at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, who was led in evidence by the state Director of Public Prosecution, Dr Babajide Martins, told the court that the victim presented herself for medical examination on May 12, 2020, a week after the last alleged sexual intercourse with the defendant.
She said, “The victim came to Mirabel Centre on May 12, 2020, and complained of rape by her pastor.
“The victim said the last sex escapade occurred about a month before her presentation at the centre.
“The result of the medical examination showed forceful and repeated vagina penetration.”
Meanwhile, a copy of the medical report of the witness, dated May 14, 2020, was admitted into evidence as there was no objection from the defence.
During cross-examination by defence counsel, Suleiman Salami, the witness told the court that she only reviewed the history of the victim which was written by the counsellor at the centre and captured it in her report.
She stated that the victim did not mention to her that she was defiled through the anus and no DNA test was carried out to ascertain that the defendant committed the alleged offences.
After the witness was done with her testimony, the prosecution told the court that it would be closing its case against the defendant.
The defence counsel, however, informed the court of the intention of the defence to file a no-case submission.
Consequently, Justice Ramon Oshodi adjourned the case till April 27 for filing and adoption of no-case submission by the defence.
The victim’s mother and one Inspector Akikuowo Omiere had on January 9, testified against the pastor.