A sexton taking care of the churchyard of St Michaels and All Angels Church, Ifite-Awka has been nabbed for impregnating a 14-year old girl.
The suspect, a 31-year-old man identified as James Rich, who resides in the church premises, is from Cross Rivers State.
He is also said to be married, with two kids, while the wife is expecting a new baby.
The suspect was arrested by officials of the State Ministry of Women and Social Welfare and brought to the Ministry on Thursday.
According to the victim, who has some bodily growth challenges, revealed that the incident usually occur when she comes early to church on Sundays to arrange the seats in church.
“I usually come to church every Sunday by 5am to help arrange the seats ahead of the 6:30am service and immediately he sees me, he will invite me to the church toilet where he normally have sex with me.
“He doesn’t force me and I never asked him for money. He just does it every Sunday before I go to church,” she revealed.
When our correspondent spoke to the suspect, he confessed to defiling the 14-year-old and impregnating her in the process.
He also confirmed the victim’s story that he usually have carnal knowledge of her early every Sunday morning at the church premises, but said he only did it three times after which he gives her the sum of two hundred naira to buy biscuit.
“It was only three times that I did it. The first time, I used condom but subsequently, I did not use any form of protection.
“It was in the church bathroom that I usually had intercourse with her and she usually ask me if I won’t give her anything, I then gave her N200 to take and buy biscuit.
“I never forced her. I only asked her to allow me have sex with her and she removed her clothes for me,” he narrated.
The suspect who said he had lived in the church since 2012, said it is the first time he is indulging in such shameful act.
He pleaded; “I don’t know what came over me because this is not who I am.
“I have been in this church for a long time and I haven’t done such a shameful thing. Please forgive me for I don’t know what came over me.
”This is the handiwork of the devil.”
