A 57-year-old prophet, Ebenezer Ogunmefun, was, on Wednesday, arraigned before an Ogun State Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Abeokuta for sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl.
Ogunmefun, whose address was not provided, was charged with one count of sexual abuse.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Moshood Hammed, told the court that the defendant committed the offence at No. 1 Prof. Ajibo Toluca Pioneer Street, Olomore area, Abeokuta.
He alleged that the defendant, who claimed to be a prophet, told the victim’s mother that the girl was possessed by evil spirits, which needed to be exorcised.
Hammed said after sexually abusing the victim, the defendant asked her not to inform anybody and swear by the Bible that she would not divulge the affair.
The police prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 33 of the Child Rights Law of Ogun State, 2006.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Chief Magistrate Solomon Banwo admitted the defendant to bail in the sum N750,000 with two sureties in like sum.
Banwo ordered that one of the sureties must be the defendant’s spouse and the other must be a community leader.
He adjourned the case till September 2 for hearing.