An Imo State High Court has sentenced Pastor Desmond Eke to eight years in prison for raping the wife of a church member.

Justice T.N. Nzeukwu ruled that the prosecution had established the elements of rape and sexual assault against the convict beyond a reasonable doubt and declared him guilty of the offenses.

Pastor Eke, founder of the Deliverance Ministry of the Good Shepherd, Umuihita Avu, Owerri West LGA, Imo State, was found guilty of taking advantage of the woman who had placed significant trust in him.

The convict faced trial on a three-count charge: raping the woman, who is also a member of his church, and administering a stupefying substance that made her dizzy and weak.

According to the prosecution counsel, Chioma Emuka, it was while in this dizzy state that Pastor Eke took advantage of the woman, who regained consciousness while he was still inside her.

Emuka said that when the woman inquired why he had violated her, the pastor told her that his semen was holy enough to deliver her from the marine spirit that was troubling her.

Delivering his judgment, Justice Nzeukwu convicted Pastor Eke on two counts: breaching trust and raping the woman. However, he was discharged on the third count, which concerned inflicting injuries during the rape.

The judge reasoned that since the woman was not fully conscious during the incident, it was unlikely that injuries could have occurred, as there was no resistance.

Before the judgment, defense counsel Ohaka, standing in for Nwaneri of Dauda Chambers, pleaded that his client had demonstrated good behavior by attending court throughout the trial without jumping bail. He requested that, instead of a full sentence, his client be placed on probation.

This is the first case prosecuted under the Violent Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act in the state.

A civil society organization, Onurube, reported the matter and has followed it to its conclusion.

Speaking on the case, the convener of Onurube, Marjorie Ezihe, praised the court for convicting the pastor, believing that the conviction would serve as a deterrent to others who might seek to have carnal knowledge of women without their consent.