TheCable

The Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) has suspended David Onyekachukwu, a member of its life camp branch, Abuja, for reportedly raping and impregnating a teenage girl.

Collins Edomaruse, the church’s spokesman, announced this in a statement on Monday.

According to the statement, the suspension followed a probe by the church which found Onyekachukwu culpable of the crime.

The suspect, 48, was said to have sexually exploited and impregnated the victim, a junior secondary school (JSS) student in Abuja, who was living with him after she lost her parents in 2018.

Babalola Niyi, regional overseer, Gwarimpa region of the church, confirmed that Onyekachuwu was suspended over the incident.

“He (Onyekachukwu) is not an ordained pastor in Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries. He is just a member/worker in that Life Camp branch and he has been suspended from the branch immediately,” Niyi said.

“The church can not stop the law from taking its course as doing so will amount to condoning evil and being an accessory after the fact.

“After investigation, we confirmed that the raping and impregnating of the girl is true and the matter is currently being handled by the police.

“However, we want to say that the alleged person is not an ordained pastor or an officially appointed Pastor in MFM Gwarimpa Region. This is, therefore, a personal issue between the brother and the innocent victim.

“It has nothing to do with Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries. In MFM, the leadership does not condone indiscipline. Absolute holiness within and without is our hallmark in Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries.

“This is of a priority in all our training and teachings to our Pastors and members.

The Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has reportedly taken Onyekachukwu into its custody over the allegation.

Stella Nezan, NAPTIP’s head, press, and public relations unit, said the suspect had confessed to committing the crime.

“The victim, a JSS2 student of one of the government schools in Abuja, suddenly dropped out of school and was in dire need of accommodation shortly after the death of her parents in 2018,” Nezan said.

“Investigation revealed that he was living with his daughter in the same compound with the victim’s deceased parents in Karmo, a suburb of Abuja, and volunteered to assist her in her education.

“According to the victim, after the first year of their living together, the pastor started making love advances toward her, an action she constantly resisted.

“She narrated that the first time the pastor raped her was in March, after her birthday outing. During interrogation, the pastor confessed to sexually abusing the girl only twice and attributing the evil act to the devil.”