Pastor accused of raping 12-year-old girl Culled from Punch

Pastor accused of
raping 12-year-old girl
Culled from Punch

A pastor, Alasco Sobowale,
has been accused of raping a
12-year-old girl (name
withheld) in Epe, Lagos State.
The pastor was said to have
allegedly had carnal
knowledge of the girl at their
home located at 10, Togodo
Street, Temu Town.
The victim’s aunt, Mrs. Ngozi
Anjorin, said the incident
occurred on December 15,
2012
Anjorin said the victim only
spoke Igbo Language and had
recently arrived Lagos from
Imo State. She said Sobowale,
who also speaks Igbo,
allegedly lured her niece to
the toilet around 9pm and
had sex with her.
She said, “My niece was sent to
Lagos about two weeks before the
incident so I could send her to
school because she doesn’t speak
English Language. She only speaks
Igbo and only I and the pastor, who
is our neighbour, speak Igbo.
“On that particular night, my
children were in the room watching
television but I couldn’t find my
niece. I kept on shouting her name
but I got no answer. I then
proceeded to the toilet which is
detached from the building. I
knocked on the door of the toilet
and the pastor immediately ran out
and I saw her inside the toilet.
“When I inquired of her what she
was doing inside the toilet with the
pastor, she said he lured her into
the toilet and covered her mouth
with his palm so she wouldn’t
scream. She said the pastor brought
out his penis and forced it into her
anus. She said he also put his penis
in her vagina and when she
discharged a particular fluid, he
used a handkerchief to scoop it.”
Anjorin said Sobowale, who lives
with his wife and children in the
same compound, fled after the
incident.
Anjorin said two days later, she
reported the matter to the Epe
Police Division and the policemen
began to look for him.
It was learnt that two days later,
the police were able to arrest him.
Residents told our correspondent
that after Sobowale’s arrest, some
of his church members accused a
six-year-old girl of bewitching the
pastor and had her flogged and
paraded.
A source, who craved anonymity,
said, “Sobowale is not actually the
head pastor. His wife is the senior
pastor of the church known as Okiki
Imole. A few days after the
incident, a six-year-old girl was
branded a witch and accused of
manipulating the pastor to commit
the dastardly act.
“The poor girl was beaten up and
paraded round the town. They said
when the pastor was conducting
deliverance for her; her spirit took
over his body.”
Anjorin said the alleged rape victim
was rushed down to Epe General
Hospital where tests were
conducted on her.
A copy of the doctor’s report made
available to PUNCH Metro, stated
that the victim’s “vaginal hymen is
no longer intact and bruises were
observed in the anal region.”
The report further stated that there
was sperm residue in the victim’s
private part and it was concluded
that she had been sexually
assaulted.
A doctor, who spoke to our
correspondent on the condition of
anonymity, said because Sobowale
had not provided his sperm sample,
it was impossible to ascertain if it
was his own sperm that was found
in the victim’s private part.
PUNCH metro learnt that Sobowale
was released a few days later and
charges against him dropped.
Anjorin however protested the
development, adding it was not safe
for her niece to live in the same
compound with Sobowale.
A neighbour, who craved
anonymity, said it was the habit of
policemen in the area to cover up
such crimes.
“Whenever a crime of this nature
occurs, the police would ask the
suspect to offset the victim’s
hospital bill and then grant the
suspect bail. It is very common in
areas like Epe because it is not
situated in the metropolis,” he said.
When contacted, the spokesperson
for the state police command, Ngozi
Braide, confirmed that the girl was
raped.
Braide said the police had not taken
sides, adding that the pastor was
released on bail because courts
were not in session.
“The pastor is in charge of a white
garment church in the area. He will
be charged with sodomy. He was
released on bail because courts are
not sitting but once courts resume,
he will be charged,” she said.