The Ebonyi State Police Command has arrested Bishop Ndibueze Okorie Onyeagoziri, General Overseer of Champion the Truth Cathedral, over allegations of repeatedly having sexual relations with a 22-year-old female sickle cell patient.
According to preliminary findings on Thursday, the cleric allegedly targeted vulnerable female church members, exploiting their needs under the guise of offering help and support.
Police spokesperson DSP Joshua Ukandu confirmed the arrest, saying: “Yes, the bishop is with us here at the police headquarters, Abakaliki. I don’t have any other information as the case is under investigation. On Wednesday, October 1, he was arrested by our men and brought to the state police command over the act.”
In a viral video circulating on social media, the victim explained that she began living with the bishop after her family and the cleric agreed she should stay in the church to receive “divine treatment” for her illness. She said the arrangement only worsened her condition.
She alleged that the bishop convinced her “a seven-day sex with him was all she needed for her genotype to change from SS to AA.” Driven by desperation after losing three siblings to the disease, she complied. However, her health deteriorated further, prompting her sister to intervene and take her home.
The victim added: “The Bishop repeatedly threatened to upload pictures of our sexual activities if I left him.” She said her fears were confirmed when her nude images appeared online.
Bishop Onyeagoziri, however, denied the allegations, claiming he never had sexual relations with the victim. “My phone was stolen earlier this month, and after all efforts by those in possession of the phone to extort me failed, they resorted to denting my image. Those pictures you see are doctored. They aren’t real,” he said.
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