Court Sentences Prophet to Life Imprisonment for Defiling Minor With Anointing Oil.
A court has handed down a life sentence to a Nigerian prophet found guilty of sexually abusing an underage member of his congregation.
The convict, Prophet Olayinka Ajiboye, is the founder of Mission House of Divine Land of Joy and Prayer Ministry. Judges ruled that he would spend the rest of his life behind bars for crimes that included defilement and using anointing oil as a lubricant during the act.
The case has drawn widespread anger, with many asking how a man of God could turn a place of worship into a scene of such abuse.
According to testimony from one of the victims, the abuse did not happen in a secret hideout or a private home. It took place inside the generator house of the church.
READ: 16-Year-Old Cultist Allegedly Kills Female Neighbor to Get Promotion in His Confraternity
The time was early morning, after an all-night service. Most church members had gone home. The building was quiet. That was when the prophet allegedly pulled out a bottle of anointing oil from his pocket. Prosecutors told the court that he used the oil as a lubricant before forcing himself on the underage girl.
The victim described the act in clear detail during the trial. Her words left many in the courtroom shaken.
The case did not stop with one girl. As word spread, other victims stepped forward to share their own experiences with the prophet.
They told the court that Ajiboye had a pattern. Before abusing them, he would force them to take an oath using the Bible. He made the young girls swear that if they ever told anyone what happened, they would die. For many of them, that fear kept them quiet for months or even years.
Some of the victims also revealed that the prophet took some of the young girls for abortions after they became pregnant from the abuse.
For a long time, the threats and the oath worked. None of the girls spoke up. But luck ran out for Ajiboye when he was caught in the act. Reports do not specify exactly who walked in or how the discovery was made, but once the alarm was raised, the police were called.
An investigation followed. More victims came forward. And the court eventually found enough evidence to send him away for life.
The life sentence means Ajiboye will not walk free again unless a higher court overturns the decision — something legal experts say is unlikely given the weight of the testimony against him.
On social media and in local communities, reactions have been mixed between relief and disgust. Many are relieved that justice was served. But many others are disgusted that a religious leader used his position to harm those who trusted him.
One resident who lives near the church said: “We brought our children to that place thinking they were safe. We never knew what was happening inside the generator house.”
READ: 8-Year-Old Child Bride Dies From Internal Bleeding After Her Wedding Night
The judge, in delivering the sentence, made it clear that the court would not tolerate religious leaders who hide behind the cloth to commit crimes. The ruling is expected to serve as a warning to anyone in a position of trust who thinks they can get away with abusing children.
For the victims, the sentence brings some closure. But the healing process will likely take much longer than the trial did.
As for Prophet Olayinka Ajiboye, he will now spend the rest of his days behind bars — a long way from the pulpit and the generator house where he committed his crimes.
Court Sentences Prophet to Life Imprisonment for Defiling Minor With Anointing Oil.
Discover more from TOKTOK9JA MEDIA
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
