By Victor Akinkuolie

The Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Ibadan National Headquarters, has suspended Pastor James Peter for allegedly impregnating a disabled choir member of his church.

Pastor Peter, who until the incident presided over a branch of Christ Apostolic Church, Modebiayo, Oke-Gburowo, in Odigbo Local Government area of Ondo State, was relieved of his duties following the incident.

The church also issued a query to another pastor and summoned both to the CAC headquarters in Ibadan to explain their involvement in the pregnancy of the 13-year-old chorister.

According to a source within the church, the suspension letter was issued to Pastor Peter on April 26, 2025. Invitations were also extended to two other pastors for questioning.

The source explained that the pastor had earlier been instructed to hand over all church property in his possession to an evangelist and proceed on an indefinite suspension, effective from April 26, 2025. He was also summoned to Ibadan to explain the rationale behind his alleged sexual harassment of the teenager.

Also invited to the church’s headquarters in Ibadan were the parents of the teenage chorister, the girl herself, and the senior pastor in charge of the Asewele branch of the church.

It will be recalled that operatives of the Ondo State Security Network, codenamed Amotekun Corps, Ore Division, Odigbo Local Government area, had earlier arrested and questioned the pastor over the allegation.

The pastor was also summoned by the chorister’s parents to the palace of the traditional ruler of the community, Oloja Moses Ogunmoyewa, for allegedly impregnating their daughter.

According to a source close to the family of the 13-year-old girl, who also has a minor deformity, the pastor had previously impregnated her and arranged for an abortion without the family’s knowledge.

The family source added that during interrogation at the palace, the cleric confessed to being responsible for the pregnancy—a confession that was documented by the monarch and other community members.

Trouble reportedly began when the pastor later denied responsibility for the pregnancy. Although the zonal headquarters of the church intervened, all efforts by his colleagues to persuade him to accept responsibility proved abortive.