IKEJA, LAGOS:  The Lagos State Special Offences Court has sentenced Chris Douglas, the 63-year-old General Overseer of Peculiar Generation Assembly Church, to life imprisonment for the rape of a congregant’s daughter.

In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Justice Rahman Oshodi found Douglas guilty on three counts of rape, describing his actions as a "reprehensible" betrayal of spiritual authority.

Abuse of Spiritual Authority

The court established that Douglas exploited his position as a trusted father figure to the victim and her family. The prosecution proved that the cleric utilized this influence to lure the victim to a hotel on multiple occasions.

Justice Oshodi highlighted the severe impact of the crimes, noting that the victim suffered significant psychological trauma, including clinical depression and recurring suicidal thoughts.

"The convict occupied a position of spiritual authority and was regarded as a father figure by the victim and her family," Justice Oshodi stated. "Instead of protecting that trust, the convict betrayed it in the most reprehensible manner."

The Trial and Evidence

Led by the Director of Public Prosecution, Dr. Babajide Martins, the prosecution presented five witnesses, including:

• The victim and her mother.

• Medical expert Dr. Maria Fadaka.

• Law enforcement and human rights representatives.

The victim testified that the abuse began in September 2017 after she was drugged by the cleric. While the defense argued the relationship was consensual, Justice Oshodi rejected the claim, ruling that the evidence established lack of consent beyond a reasonable doubt.

Verdict and Sentencing

Although the court discharged Douglas on six counts related to earlier incidents due to evidentiary technicalities under the Evidence Act 2011, he was convicted on three counts of rape occurring after the victim turned 18.

Key Judicial Orders:

• Sentence: Life imprisonment on each of the three counts, to run concurrently.

• Registry: The court ordered that Douglas’s name be entered into the Lagos State Sexual Offenders Register.

• Public Policy: The judge reaffirmed the court's commitment to punishing abuses of trust and protecting the vulnerable.

The case was initially brought to light through the intervention of a human rights organization and the Mirabel Centre, following a report to the Makinde Police Division.