Pastor arrested for conducting virginity test on member with finger

The Ogun State Police Command said on Tuesday, that it had arrested a pastor identified as  Adekunle Kayode, 34, for conducting virginity test on  a 20-year-old female member of his church in Abeokuta, the state capital, using his finger.

Kayode, a pastor in charge of Jesus Is The Way Evangelistic Ministry, Olorunsogo, Abeokuta, was reportedly arrested by detectives attached to Kemta Division  in his house, 3, Okeyidi Street, Abeokuta.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement said the pastor’s arrest was carried out when the victim narrated her ordeal to her father who then informed the police of the incident.

The pastor was reported to have been engaging in the act in the church weekly in a bid to confirm the girl's virginity status.

According to the PPRO, “there was also a drama when the victim received ‘holy spirit’ which propelled her to reveal the misdeeds of the pastor who has indulged in this ungodly act for years.

“Another suspect arrested for similar offence  is one Onatade Oluwasegun, 23, of 4, Sheriff Onatade Street, Obantoko for conspiring with the said pastor to use the victim for a ritual purpose.

“The father of the victim alleged that the duo were fond of dipping their fingers in the victim's private part even when she was menstruating for reasons best known to them.

"She also claimed that the pastor recently confirmed her  virginity status when she was to take part in a church programme.

“The victim has also claimed that Oluwasegun used a charm while attempting to rape  her as directed by the pastor possibly for a ritual but she miraculously escaped.

"Meantime,  the police have recovered the charm from the pastor within the church premises.

“The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State, Ikemefuna Okoye, has directed that the matter be transferred to the SCID, Eleweran for further investigation."

We did not pass child marriage law - Senators

Following widespread criticism over the supposed passage of child marriage law in Nigeria, the senate has said it has not pass the law but was misunderstood by Nigerians.

Senator Atiku Buguda and Senator Akin Odunsi have claimed that the Nigeria's senate has not passed the child marriage law. They argued that their debate in the Upper chamber was misconstrued by Nigerians.

They noted that the voting on amendment to Section 29 of the Constitution which defined the age when a person comes to a full age, with an addition spelling out that a woman who is married is deemed to be of full age does not mean the passage of child marriage law.

Senator Buguda said, “The argument that brought about this furore is the renunciation of citizenship. There was an attempt to remove its second element which relates to a woman who is married and that failed. It is a total misrepresentation that the Senate has approved child marriage. Marriage is regulated by the Marriage Act, Islamic laws and Customary Law. What you find missing in these laws is the absence of the definition of the age of marriage. Around the world, marriage below the age of 18 is allowed. I am not saying that it is right, but it is allowed. We were not debating child marriage, and that is not what we contemplated”.

Senator Akin Odunsi, (Ogun West) added that the Senate could not raise the number of votes needed to delete the section.

The lawmaker noted that public reaction tended to indicate that the Senate inserted the clause into the Constitution.

He insisted that it was wrong to say that the Senate passed a law on child marriage.

Driver arraigned for ‘almost stripping policewoman naked’ in Abeokuta

A 45-year-old driver, Sule Bankole, on Wednesday appeared in an Abeokuta Magistrates' Court for allegedly assaulting a police woman by tearing her uniform.

The Police Prosecutor, Insp. Sunday Eigbejiale, told the court that the accused committed the offence on July 12, at 4 p.m. at Lafenwa Junction in Abeokuta.

He said that Bankole assaulted one Cpl. Blessing Nwauno by pulling and tearing her uniform.

The prosecutor said that the accused, who was divining a Nissan vehicle, was stopped by the police woman when he failed to obey a traffic signal.

"Bankole then forcefully held and tore the corporal's uniform, almost stripping her naked while she was performing her lawful duty," he said.

Eigbejiale said that the offence contravened Section 352 of the Criminal Code and 36 (1) (J) of RTR Vol 4 Law of Ogun, 2006.

The accused, who resides at No. 5 Ayeni St., Panseke, and was represented by his Counsel, Mr Olu Adetola, pleaded not guilty to the charge of assault.

His counsel, subsequently, applied for bail for his client, assuring the court that the accused would not jump bail.

The Magistrate, Mr Martins Akinyemi, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case to Aug. 22 for mention.

Information from NAN was used in this report.