An interpreter with the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, identified as Akin Adewale, has been arrested for allegedly raping a 12-year-old girl.

The suspect allegedly committed the crime in his home located at number 6, Shamusideen, Oke-Sokori area of the town when his wife was not at home.

The victim is said to be daughter of a church member of the suspect’s church, and was
residing with the suspect and his wife, alongside their two kids.

After violently raping the 12-year-old, the church leader threatened her and asked her not to tell anyone, the victim’s mother said.

The traumatized girl, defied the threats, ran to the house of her biological parents and while she cried profusely narrated the event to her mother.

The victim’s mother reported to the Ogbe Unit of the Odua Peoples Congress, OPC, who arrested the suspect.

Mr. Adewale, a commercial photographer, confessed to the crime and blamed the devil for the act.

In his statement to the OPC, a copy of which was made available to PREMIUM TIMES, the suspect confessed that he used a cloth to cover the victim’s mouth before forcefully raping her.

He confessed that after he had his way, he threatened her and then gave her pain killers.

The mother of the victim, in her statement, said her daughter fled the couple’s home and came to her crying profusely about her nasty and ugly experience.

“My daughter came home crying and telling me she was no more interested in staying with daddy Favour (the suspect). She narrated a shocking revelation that the man covered her mouth with cloth and had sex with her,” she said.

The mother said she reported the case to her husband, who decided that the alleged rapist must be arrested and prosecuted.

The victim has been taken to a private hospital located at Totoro area of the town for medication, while a laboratory investigation was also conducted at a private Diagnosis Laboratory situated along NTA road, Abeokuta.

Church seeks to cover pastor up

lPREMIUM TIMES  learnt that officials of the church were frantically making moves to cover up the crime, as emissaries were sent to the victim’s parents and the OPC to appeal to them.

When contacted, the zonal coordinator of the OPC, Akeem Bakenne, confirmed the arrest of the suspect, adding that investigation is still ongoing and the case will be handed over to the police later.

The case was yet to be reported to the police as at the time of this report.