Court Remands Pastor Over Rape Of Teenager

A Pastor with one of the new generation Churches in Port
Harcourt, Rivers State, Christ Ministry International Church, Pastor Arthur
Jonason, has been remanded in Prison custody by a Port Harcourt Senior
magistrate Court for allegedly raping a 13-year old girl.

The accused, Pastor Arthur Jonason, 39 is standing trial on
a one-count charge of rape before Senior Magistrate Vivienne U. Erekosima.

The prosecuting Police Officer, Inspector Goodluck Adoe told
the court that the accused on the 18th September, 2011 at Celia’s Nursery and
Primary School Rumuodaolu, Off Rumuola Road in Port Harcourt Magisterial
District had unlawful carnal knowledge of one Miss Victoria Iyela aged 13.

The Police prosecutor averred that the Christ Ministry
International Church Pastor committed an offence punishable under section 218
of the criminal code Cap 37 Vol. 11, laws of Rivers State 1999.

The presiding senior magistrate, Vivienne U. Erekosima while
remanding the accused person in prison custody declared that the court lacked
jurisdiction to hear the matter as well as grant the accused bail following the
gravity of the crime he committed.

She therefore, ordered that the original case file be
forwarded to the DPP via the office of the Chief Registrar for legal advice and
later adjourned the matter to 17/8/2012.