By Egufe Yafugborhi
RESIDENT Pastor at Mgbuola, Ndele parish of the Glorious Covenant Church, Piller Erekwa, Emohuan Local Government Area, Rivers state, has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a 15 year old minor in the church
Pastor Erekwa pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of sexual abuse preferred against him by prosecuting Rivers State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) at the Port Harcourt Magistrate Court 1, presided over by Chief Magistrate Ogeh Elkanah.
The accused admitted guilt when the charge read that he, “Mr Piller Erekwa sexually abused a 15 year old girl in Mgbuola village in Ndele between December 2022 and January 2023 thereby committing an offence punishable by laws of Rivers State.”
Trial Magistrate, Elkanah consequently adjourned the matter to 19 July 2023 for facts and sentencing.
Pastor Erekwa was arrested penultimate Thursday at Ndele by men of the Rumuji Police Division who transferred him to the SCIID for further investigation.
National Coordinator, Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign, Prince Wiro, who escalated the matter commended the Police and the court for the swift trial.
Wiro equally commended family of the abused victim for not bowing to pressure to settle the case out of court.
The Pastor was remanded to the correctional Centre in Port Harcourt pending his sentence on 19 July.
