Justice Peter Kekemeke of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has sentenced a 29-year-old pastor, Stephen Kalu, to life imprisonment for raping a 17-year-old girl.

Kalu of the Adoration Ministry, Karshi, Abuja, was arraigned before the court on two counts bordering on rape. He was charged with having sexual intercourse with the girl at his residence without her consent, thereby contravening Section 31 (1) of the Child’s Right Act and punishable under Section 31 (2) of the same Act.

Delivering judgment in the case on Thursday, July 15, Justice Kekemeke said the convict admitted to sleeping with the girl several times, which resulted in a pregnancy and the birth of a girl child. The court held that although Kalu promised to marry the victim, an offense was committed and the law must take its course.

“Our society, especially this division of the court, has seen several cases of rape. It is a pathetic situation; the system must be expunged of rapists; our children need protection from our courts.

The law is already there; the same defendant committed a similar offence of rape, while on bail during the period of this case. He is a danger to our children; the defendant is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment.”the judge ruled.