A man who stepped out during a church service to confess to being a fornicator and asking for forgiveness has allegedly forcefully had carnal knowledge of a 16-year-old church member a few days later.
Godstime Mark made a public confession and denounced his sins at his church, and completely fooled church members into believing he had become a new creature.
Mark later lured an impressionable church member into Poco Hotel at Old Ojo Road, Satellite Town, Lagos under the false pretence of assisting her with some gift items.
The girl said since she was in church when the suspect openly confessed during a church service and renounced his bad ways, she thought he was a changed man.
She turned up at the address he gave her, which turned out to be a hotel. He reportedly took her to a room, tore her clothes and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her three times before leaving her behind and absconding.
The girl reportedly begged people for clothes to wear as he tore the ones she wore to the hotel and went home to report the suspect to her parents, who promptly reported the matter to the police in the area.
Mark was traced, arrested and transferred to the Gender Section of the Command for interrogation.
According to PM Express, Mark admitted that he actually confessed in the church and renounced his sins but he did not know what came over him to engage the victim in such an act.
The Police subsequently charged him before the Ogba Magistrate Court for defilement, which can attract up to life imprisonment.
Upon his arraignment, the prosecutor, Inspector Lucky Ihiehie, moved a motion and asked the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for legal advice because of the nature of the alleged crime.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O.A. Layinka, ordered the remand of the suspect in custody at the Correctional Centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending the outcome of the DPP’s advice.
