As police arrest doctor in CRS for sexually assaulting 15-year-old patient
The Ondo State police command has arrested a self-acclaimed prophet, Festus James, for allegedly raping eight-month pregnant woman during a private deliverance session.
The suspect was said to have carried out the act in Agbabu community in Odigbo local government area of the state.
Parading the suspect in Akure on Thursday (yesterday), spokesman for the command, Mrs. Funmilayo Odunlami, said James had carnal knowledge of the 22-year-old woman under the pretext of performing spiritual deliverance for her.
“James from Ibadan in Oyo State went to Agbabu village via Ore, claimed to be a prophet and that the holy spirit directed him to have a three days holy ghost revival in a church in the village.
“The next day, the prophet claimed to have seen a vision concerning the pregnant woman and told her to wait behind after the programme.
“He took the pregnant lady into one of the rooms in the mission house under the guise of delivering her from an evil spirit and had carnal knowledge of her. The suspect confessed to the crime.”
She said the suspect would soon be charged to court.
James, who admitted to having sex with the victim, however, denied raping her and blamed the devil for the sinful act.
“I had sex with her truly, but it was not rape; I did not rape her. I always went there for revival. But honestly, I didn’t know what came over me that caused me to do that. It was the work of the devil,” he said.
In a related development, the Cross River State police command has arrested a medical doctor, identified as Samuel, for allegedly sexually assaulting a 15-year-old patient.
It was learnt that the doctor allegedly assaulted the victim on October 22, 2021, while on admission for three days at his clinic in Calabar.
It was gathered that Samuel had requested the victim to be unclad while examining her and assaulted her in the process.
The principal counsel for the Basic Rights Counsel Initiative, Mr. James Ibor, who petitioned the state commissioner of police, Mr. Aminu Alhassan, over the matter, noted that Samuel sexually assaulted the teenager throughout her stay in the hospital.
Ibor, in the petition dated November 9, 2021, urged the police to investigate the case and ensure that justice was served.
“According to our client, Dr Samuel led her into his consulting room and instructed her to totally undress, but when she hesitated, he insisted and said all doctors who examine or check a patient with difficulty in breathing require the patient to fully undress for proper examination.
“He then assisted her to pull her clothing. He thereafter placed a stethoscope on her chest several times and after a few minutes dropped it and leaned his weight on her and started groping her breast while moaning.
“The assault continued through the three days she was on admission at the hospital. Sir, we trust you will use your good offices to investigate this case in the interest of public safety and ensure that justice is served,” Ibor wrote.
The suspect was said to have been apprehended Wednesday, November 16, but spokesperson for the police command, Ms. Irene Ugbo, said she was not aware of the incident.
With Punch report
