A Chief Magistrate Court in Port Harcourt has remanded Pastor Piller Erekwa, the leader of Glorious Covenant Church, to a maximum security custodial center in Rivers State. He is facing charges of allegedly defiling a 15-year-old girl who is a member of his church. The accused pleaded guilty to the charge of sexual abuse during his arraignment by the Rivers State Police Command.
The court, presided over by Chief Magistrate Ogeh Elkanah, adjourned the case to July 19, 2023, for the presentation of facts and sentencing. Pastor Erekwa was arrested by the Rumuji Police Division and later transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigation.
The pastor is accused of sexually abusing the teenager between December 2022 and January 2023, resulting in her pregnancy. It is alleged that he even suggested terminating the pregnancy, but the girl’s family opposed the idea. The Centre for Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign has commended the Police for arraigning the suspect in court, while also praising the family of the rape survivor for not opting for an out-of-court settlement.
