A Lagos Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja has convicted a 63-year-old cleric, Chris Douglas, and sentenced him to life imprisonment for the assault of a church member’s daughter.

Trial judge, Justice Rahman Oshodi, found the defendant guilty and held that the victim suffered significant psychological harm.

Delivering judgment yesterday, the court held that Douglas, a pastor of Peculiar Generation Assembly Church, Oshodi, abused his position of authority and trust to exploit the victim, who was 18 at the time of the incident.

The court found that the offences occurred at a hotel where the cleric took the victim on several occasions, noting that the victim and her family had relied on him for guidance and support.

During the trial, the prosecution, led by the Director of Public Prosecution, Dr Babajide Martins, and the defence, led by Mr Yusuf Temilola Nurudeen, called a total of 10 witnesses. The prosecution presented five witnesses, including the victim, her mother and a medical doctor, and tendered documents admitted as exhibits.

The court heard evidence of the emotional impact of the incident on the victim, including depression and recurring distress.

Testifying before the court, the victim’s mother said she confronted the cleric at his church after discovering the incident, adding that he apologised in the presence of church elders.

The matter was subsequently reported to a human rights organisation and later to the police, before the victim was referred to the Mirabel Centre for medical examination.

The defendant denied the allegations and maintained that the relationship was consensual. However, the court rejected this claim, holding that the victim’s testimony was credible and corroborated by medical evidence.

Justice Oshodi examined testimonial, medical and electronic evidence presented by the prosecution, alongside objections raised by the defence under the Evidence Act, 2011.

While the court agreed that some documents were improperly admitted and should be discountenanced, it held that the oral testimony of the medical expert, Dr Maria Fadaka, remained admissible and credible.

The judge noted that the prosecution did not establish some allegations linked to earlier periods but found sufficient evidence to support the charges relating to later incidents.

The court acquitted the defendant of six counts but found him guilty on three counts.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment on each of the counts, with the sentences to run concurrently. The court also ordered that his name be entered in the Sexual Offences Register maintained by the Lagos State Government.