Prophet accused of raping daughter

An Ogbesun Chief Magistrates’ Court in Benin, Edo State, on Wednesday ordered the remand of a 41-year-old Prophet, Benjamin Bernard, in prison custody for alleged rape of his seven-year-old daughter.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Chief Magistrate, Mrs Taiye Omoruyi, refused to admit the cleric to bail.

The prosecutor, Kenneth Ugiagbe, said the pastor committed the incest against his third daughter on January 26, 2016.

Bernard pleaded not guilty to the one count of defilement preferred against him.

The minor, led in evidence by Ugiagbe, told the court that after defiling her, Bernard used a white handkerchief to clean her private parts.

She said her father warned her not to mention it to anyone else, and threatened to kill her if she did.

The court adjourned the matter till March16 for further hearing.

In another development, a Zuba Grade 1 Area Court in the Federal Capital Territory struck out eight cases that had been adjourned many times as part of its efforts to decongest the Suleja Prison.

NAN reports that the judge, Gambo Garba, said none of the complainants had been present in court.

Garba said he could not continue to keep the prison congested with cases that were not progressing.