Following an allegation of rape against a Lagos-based pastor, identified only as Bishop Daniels, two former members of his church have claimed that they were also raped by the cleric.
The two victims, who spoke to PUNCH Metro on condition of anonymity, said the suspect used a similar trick of summoning them from their branches to his house in Lekki, Lagos State, claiming that they committed offences for which they would be punished before sleeping with them.
Our correspondent had earlier reported that an assistant pastor in the church’s branch outside Lagos accused Daniels, who is married with children, of raping her twice at his Lekki house, adding that she bled in her private parts.
The 22-year-old victim said she petitioned the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon, in a bid to get justice.
Daniels, when contacted, denied knowing any pastor bearing the victim’s name.
But the spokesperson for the FCID, Niyi Ogundeyi, said Daniels was arrested and detained for six days over that incident.
The two latest victims, in separate interviews with our correspondent, said they had also petitioned the FCID over the matter.
Recounting her ordeal, one of the ex-worshippers said Daniels also raped her twice, adding that in one instance, the pastor made her lose consciousness.
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She said, “He summoned me to his house in Lekki, Lagos, for punishment and when I got there, he immediately ordered me to get an alcoholic drink.
“After getting it, he ordered me to drink it, but I refused. He got angry that I disobeyed him and kept compelling me to drink it. After drinking a little portion, he told me to drink on, till I became unconscious.
“I found myself naked after he woke me up the next day. He told me he was going out and warned me against opening the door for anybody as he left. I was completely naked and felt his semen around my private parts.
“I cleaned myself and while in the house, a church member, Rachael, knocked on the door. I opened the door and she went inside to pick something and left. When Daniels returned, I told him Rachael came and he became angry that I opened the door for her and started asking if she saw me naked.
“I came to his house from Ekiti State, but he chased me out around 4pm. I got to the park to board a bus to Ekiti around 7pm and the bus departed for Ekiti around 9pm. We had to stop on the way when it was very late. We got to Ekiti around 7am the next day.”
Another former worshipper at Daniel’s church said he used the same tactics of suspension and punishment to lure her to his house in Lagos, where he allegedly raped her.
She said, “I didn’t do anything wrong in church, but I was suddenly told that I had been suspended and should report to Lagos. Daniels told me to tell the assistant pastor of our branch that I was reporting at the church in Lagos instead of his house.
“When I got there, I had not even dropped my bag or rested from the long journey when he said I should go naked. I said, ‘Go naked like how?’ and he slapped me. I was alone with him and afraid. I quickly pulled off my clothes and after seeing my nakedness, he said I should go and have my bath.
“Later on, he asked if I took alcohol and I said no. He said there was a type of alcohol that I could take that was nice. He gave me the alcoholic drink, I drank it, got drunk and he started making sexual advances at me. Even in my state, I resisted, but he forcefully had sex with me. I had to leave his house and return to school.”
The victim lamented that Daniels allegedly raped her on multiple occasions, adding that he was also used to drinking alcohol.
Asked why she kept visiting Daniels’ house despite her experience, she said, “I don’t know; it was like I was scared; everyone is scared of him. I was 18-year-old and he manipulated me in many ways. Sometimes, he lured me to take alcohol or pills and had sex with me when I became unconscious.
“At times, he would just give order to me to go naked and forcefully have sex with me. Other victims can confirm this. He did not act like he was a pastor with me. I saw him drink alcohol to the point that he started staggering in the whole room, and at times, he vomited. He also gave me different things to swear that I would not tell anybody.
“The second experience was even worse. Despite forcefully having sex with me, he brought a lot of ladies to his house, gave them drugs to use and claimed he was counselling them. He made me do things that were beyond my age when I was 18 years old.
“After I left his house and church, the experiences affected me to the point that I stopped talking to people and had to be taking pills to sleep. I want justice to save other victims.”
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Recordings of other ex-worshippers narrating their ordeals in the hands of Daniels were obtained by our correspondent.
The FCID spokesperson, Ogundeyi, confirmed that the two victims had also made statements against Daniels.
He said, “Apart from the first complainant (assistant pastor), two other victims have made statements that he raped them. Apart from these three victims, we are expecting two other ladies that said they were also sexually abused by this Bishop Daniels.”
Meanwhile, our correspondent monitored online comments on the assistant pastor’s story against Daniels, which was published on punchng.com and through its social media handles.
While some readers commended the 22-year-old for having the courage to speak out, others blamed her for visiting Daniels’ house after the first rape.
Responding to the criticism, the victim, who stated that some of the comments were depressing, said, “My first and second encounters had a six-month interval. I visited his house knowing that he was not alone. I met a pastor and the pastor’s fiancée at his house and we all slept there.
“The pastor and his fiancée left the following day and it was after he realised I was alone with him that he raped me. It was after the incident that I believed a church member’s claim of sexual assault against Daniels and how he did everything to make sure she had no evidence.
“I knew at that moment that I needed evidence and started acting stupid to get it. He used names of highly revered priests to manipulate victims. I have recordings and chats with him to prove my case.
“In fact, he usually ordered me to delete my chats with him and before deleting, I would screen grab and send to a confidant. I have submitted all the evidence at the FCID, Alagbon. He needs to be stopped because of the safety of other people.”
Nnamdi Kanu returns to court, apologises over attacks on judge, others
The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja for the latest hearing in his ongoing trial for alleged treason. This session marked a transition in the case, with Justice James Omotosho now overseeing proceedings.
Additionally, Kanu’s defense team saw a leadership change, with senior lawyer Kanu Agabi (SAN) stepping in as the new lead counsel, while the prosecution remains led by Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN).
At the outset of the hearing, Agabi requested permission to address the court, where he extended an apology on behalf of his client. He acknowledged past tensions, emphasizing that it was necessary to offer regrets to Justice Binta Nyako, the prosecution team, and Kanu’s own legal representatives.
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He noted that Kanu had harbored anger for an extended period and admitted that criticisms directed at Justice Nyako had been unwarranted. The defense counsel also apologized to the prosecution team, led by Awomolo, as well as to the chairman of the Body of Benchers, acknowledging their respected positions.
Describing Kanu as a good man, Agabi stressed the importance of allowing room for human error, urging that efforts should be focused on resolution rather than conflict.
In response, the prosecution accepted the apology and assured that efforts would be made to expedite the trial. Awomolo acknowledged the complexities and emotions surrounding the case, recognizing the pressures involved.
Justice Omotosho also weighed in, remarking on the toll the lengthy legal battle may have taken on Kanu. He pointed out that Kanu, who was 47 when the trial began in 2015, is now 57 and remains uncertain about his future. The judge suggested that the prolonged nature of the case could have contributed to some of Kanu’s previous remarks.
Additionally, Justice Omotosho extended an apology to the prosecution on Kanu’s behalf.
Akpabio told me I’d make good movements with my waist – Natasha
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of making repeated lewd and suggestive remarks towards her, both in and outside the Senate chamber.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from the Senate on March 6 for what was described as “gross misconduct and unruly behavior” following a seating arrangement dispute with Akpabio.
However, her suspension came just a day after she formally submitted a sexual harassment petition against the Senate President on the Senate floor.
In an interview with the BBC, Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed that the allegations of misconduct were merely a cover to silence her.
She alleged that Akpabio frequently made inappropriate advances toward her, sometimes in the presence of other senators.
“He would squeeze my hands in a very suggestive way,” she said.
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Recalling a particular incident, she stated, “There was a time I forgot to wear my ring because I rushed to work. And there were about five senators there. And Akpabio said, ‘Oh Natasha, you are not wearing your ring… is this an invitation to treat?’”
She further alleged that Akpabio made sexually charged comments about her marriage.
“There was another time he made a statement like, ‘Natasha, your husband is really enjoying. It looks like you’d be able to make good movements with your waist.’”
“He makes such sexist statements. And then they (other senators) all laughed,” she added.
During the interview, Akpoti-Uduaghan broke down in tears when asked about the impact of her allegations and the backlash she has faced.
“People don’t understand what it means to carry this. Maybe we don’t talk about it enough in Nigeria or Africa,” she said, her voice breaking.
“I just want a place where I would just work. I thought the worst was over, but I guess for a woman, it’s never really over, right?”
Despite the challenges, the senator said she has received support from female parliamentarians across Africa, who have reached out to share their experiences of similar struggles in male-dominated legislative environments.
Why we want Natasha out of Senate – Kogi Central constituents
The Constituents of Kogi Central Senatorial District has explained why they want to recall Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, their representative in the Nigerian Senate back home.
“For us as Ebira people, we are determined to recall Akpoti-Uduaghan. While she is at home, she may learn the rudiments of representing her constituents better” the indigenes across the five Local Government Areas of the Senatorial district, under the aegis of Kogi Central Elites Forum (KCEF), said in a statement jointly signed by Alh. Ibrahim Abdulazeez Ibrahim (President) and Prince Akerejola Johnson (Secretary) in Lokoja.
The concerned indigenes, who are of Ebira extraction like the embattled senator, said they resolved to bring the embattled senator back home, given the alleged embarrassment she had caused the senatorial district internationally.
They condemned, in strong terms, insinuations that the recall process against the lawmaker representing Kogi Central in the National Assembly, was not endorsed by majority of the electorate in the area.
They urged Nigerians to disregard the deliberate mischief suggesting that people were deceived to come out for the recall exercise.
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“No one is sponsoring this recall. Our people are largely united on this cause. From the history of Ebiras, you know we cannot be deceived.
“Even some of us that supported Natasha on social media then are no longer with her. We cannot trade the integrity of the state and Nigeria.
“A matter as simple as not taking an assigned seat in the senate should not be one that would warrant a “sexual harassment” national embarrassment of this nature. This is not who we are as Ebiras.”
On the issue of INEC disclaiming the exercise, the constituents said the response was misconstrued.
“INEC has no official role until after this signature collection phase. We are the ones that are doing the recall, the petitioners. We have to ensure that the required threshold is met before formally presenting it for verification. This is where INEC comes in.”
They urged the public to disregard any mischievous interpretation of the recall process, saying some politicians would always release statements based on their leanings and interests.
“Ordinarily, we would never have allowed anyone to intimidate our daughter if she was on her right. But in this particular instance, she disrespected the senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which has clear rules and went on to introduce slants that have never been heard of in the history of the senate.
” This is not about content creation like many people have said.”
The national assembly has been hit by allegations of sexual harassment against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, after Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan allegedly refused to respect the senate rules and was penalised.
(NAN)
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