Court Sentence Church Founder To Life Imprisonment For Raping 16-Year-Old In Calabar
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Court Sentence Church Founder To Life Imprisonment For Raping 16-Year-Old In Calabar

By Kelvin Ololo

The General Overseer of Refiners Fire Global Assembly, Pastor Favour Maxy Okoise, has been found guilty of rape and sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a 16-years-old “spiritual daughter” in Calabar.

The judgement which held at the Family Court and was presided by His Lordship, Hon. Justice Blessing Egwu Obin, convicted the Church Founder for taking advantage of the minor within November and December 2016, in Calabar South Local Government Area of the State.

The case was prosecuted by the Ministry of Justice through Barrister Cletus Adama with Gender and Development Action (GADA) as nominal parties in the case represented by Barrister Doris Nduanusi.

The minor (name withheld to avoid stigmatization) came into Calabar in August 2016 for her Post UTME examination and lived with her elder sister at Goldie Street, where the convict visited frequently to share spiritual knowledge.

The survivor narrated that the convict harassed her sexually and touched her sensitive parts on several occasions. She said that after numerous attempts to have intercourse with her proved abortive, the convict indoctrinated her that “God needed her body as much as her spirit and soul.”

The Overseer told her that he could transfer spiritual virtues to her through intercourse. She was coerced against her will to have intercourse with him, brainwashing her to be her “spiritual father,” helping to render service to God.

Delivering her verdict, Justice Blessing Egwu Obin stated that after cross-examination, exhibits and facts presented before her, declared that “the defendant had unlawful carnal knowledge of O.P.I (survivor) as a minor.”

Citing the Cross River State Child Rights Law, 2023, said “accordingly, Favour Maxy Okoise has been sentenced to life Imprisonment and a compensation of 1 million Naira to the survivor, this is the judgement of this court.”

CrossRiverWatch gathered that the GO had raped his three other members aged 19, after several indoctrination on submitting their bodies to God and dying to self.

The convict was on a three count charges on rape and one on false pretence. He was found guilty and sentenced in the case with Suit Number: 16/6/2025 in HC/12c/2024.

The Lawyer for GADA, Barrister Doris Nduanusi, who watched brief on the case from the initiation of the trial till judgement, applauded the court, the judgement and GADA for being instrumental in the case, saying “we need more activists, we need more voices to be heard to let the society know that these kinds of ills that are happening can be stopped and there are punishments for such actions.”

Expressing satisfaction with the judgement, GADA said it is a big win for the organization, those without a voice, victory for the judiciary and while serving as a deterrent to potential rapists.

The Program Officer, Legal, Training and Justice Sector of GADA, Barrister Asibong Asi echoed that the ruling sends a strong warning to perpetrators of rape and the judgment, citing the provision of the Cross River State Child Rights Law 2023, that children cannot consent to sexual acts.

“This judgement will serve as a warning to those who abuse minors.”

She said GADA is currently implementing a project titled “Reducing Gender-Based Violence in Cross River State”. Given that the perpetrator was leading a fellowship comprising of UNICAL students, making the project relevant.

Barr. Asibong noted that Campus Square, an initiative under the project, aims to provide a platform for students to share their experiences and speak out against incidents of gender-based violence.

Asi noted the importance of male responsibility in reducing GBV and to explore this further, GADA will on 18, June, 2025, host a Stakeholders’ Forum, bringing together male youths and women’s groups from faith communities.

The forum, she stated, will focus on promoting male responsibility, challenging harmful gender norms, and leveraging positive religious texts to advocate for non-violent behaviour and gender equity.

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