Court remands Ebonyi bishop over alleged sex scandal

By Jeff Agbodo

ABAKALIKI — A magistrate tribunal sitting successful Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, has ordered the remand of Bishop Sam Onyeagoziri Ndubueze, person of the Champion Cathedral Church, successful the correctional centre implicit an alleged enactment scandal.

The cleric was accused of having unlawful carnal cognition of a young woman (name withheld) and allegedly sharing explicit pictures and videos of the enactment connected societal media.

Bishop Ndubueze was arraigned earlier the tribunal connected a four-count complaint bordering connected threats, fraud, and the circulation of pornographic materials — offences said to contravene assorted provisions of the Ebonyi State Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law (2018, amended 2024), the Criminal Code, and the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015.

When the lawsuit was called astatine Court 2, Abakaliki, Magistrate Chima Nkechi Happiness ruled that the tribunal lacked jurisdiction to entertain the substance and consequently ordered that the accused beryllium remanded astatine the Abakaliki Correctional Centre.

The magistrate besides directed that the archetypal lawsuit file, evidence, and related documents beryllium transferred to the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) for further enactment astatine the High Court.

According to the complaint sheet, Bishop Ndubueze was accused of committing the offences successful 2021 astatine Mile 50 Layout, Abakaliki.

The charges see allegations that he: Had unlawful carnal cognition of the unfortunate done threats and fraudulent representation, contrary to Section 358 of the Criminal Code Cap 33 Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State.

Threatened the victim’s beingness with a firearm, causing her utmost fear, successful usurpation of Section 12(1)(a)(b) of the Ebonyi State Internal Security Enforcement and Related Matters Law, 2009.

Knowingly transmitted pornographic materials via machine systems, an offence punishable nether Section 24(2)(I) of the Cybercrimes Act (2015, amended 2024).

Emotionally and psychologically abused the unfortunate by circulating her nude photographs connected societal media, successful contravention of Section 20(1) of the Ebonyi State Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law, 2018.

The lawsuit record has been referred to the DPP for ineligible proposal and imaginable arraignment earlier a competent court.

The station Court remands Ebonyi bishop implicit alleged enactment scandal appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.