Anambra Court Jails Choirmaster 25 Years For Rape

An Anambra High Court has sentenced James Onuorah, a choirmaster and church teacher, to 25 years in prison for raping a 16-year-old girl during so-called deliverance sessions.

The court also sentenced him to seven years for offensive conduct. Both Punch and Premium Times reported that Justice Chudi Nwankwo of High Court 2, Ogidi Judicial Division, delivered the judgment on Friday, July 17.

The case was brought as Charge No. HID/4C/2025 between the State and James Mary Onuorah. The prosecution said Onuorah deceived the victim’s mother by claiming her daughters were possessed by marine spirits and needed deliverance at his home.

The reports said the girl became pregnant after the abuse. The court found Onuorah guilty on two of the three counts before it. The rape count was brought under Section 3(1)(a) and (2) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition and Protection) Law of Anambra State, 2017.

The offensive conduct count was also tied to the same state law. A third count, involving alleged indecent assault against the victim’s elder sister, was not part of the conviction reported by the sources.

The judgment adds another court-backed record to child sexual abuse cases tied to abuse of trust inside religious settings, where victims’ families can be manipulated through claims of spiritual help.

Sources: Punch, Premium Times