A 50-year-old man, Emmauel Mathew, was on Tuesday [Apr. 30] arraigned before Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf of the Federal Capital Territory High Court for raping three pupils.
News Agency of Nigeria reported that Mathew, who is the pastor and General Overseer of The Choice Bible Church, Mpape, and proprietor of primary school the victims attended, was arraigned on six counts of rape.
He was accused of having carnal knowledge of two seven-year-old pupils and a nine-year-old on different occasions in the school’s office without their consent.
The offence is punishable under Section 283 of the Penal Code.
“Whoever has canal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 14 years and shall also be liable to fine,” the Penal Code reads.
Mathew pleaded not guilty to the charges, but the presiding judge ordered the prosecuting counsel to amend the remaining three counts against the accused.
The prosecutor, Stalley Nwodo, urged the court to fix a date for the amendment of charges.
Baba-Yusuf granted the prosecutor’s application and adjourned the matter until May 8.