A coalition of human rights advocates and sickle cell support groups has petitioned the Ebonyi State Police Command over what they described as a “disturbing pattern of sexual exploitation and deceit” allegedly perpetrated by a detained cleric, Bishop Sam Ndubueze Onyeagoziri Okorie, General Overseer of Champion the Truth Cathedral.
The petition, signed by Mrs. Aisha Edwards Maduagwu, National Coordinator of the Association of People Living with Sickle Cell Disorder (APLSCD) and Director of the Sickle Cell Orphanage and Underprivileged Home, Agulu, urged the police to ensure full justice for a young sickle cell patient allegedly abused by the bishop.
Mrs. Maduagwu, in the petition addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Command, recounted her own earlier encounter with the same cleric, whom she accused of sexually harassing her in 1997 when he served as Principal of Victory International Bible College, Asata, Enugu.
“As a survivor of sexual harassment by this same Bishop while he was my principal, I call upon the police to treat this case diligently to uncover other possible victims who may have remained silent out of fear or stigmatization,” she wrote.
According to the petition, the current victim — a 22-year-old woman living with sickle cell disorder had approached Bishop Okorie for prayers and counseling but was instead subjected to what Mrs. Maduagwu described as “marathon sexual exploitation and intimidation.”
The cleric allegedly coerced the victim into a week-long sexual relationship under the pretext that it would miraculously change her genotype from SS to AA.
Police sources confirmed that the suspect was arrested on Wednesday, October 1, and remains in custody as investigations continue.
“Yes, the Bishop is with us here at the police headquarters, Abakaliki. He was arrested and brought to the command. The matter is under investigation,” Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Joshua Ukandu, confirmed.
In a viral video that has drawn national outrage, the young woman narrated how she was lured into what the Bishop called a “divine sexual covenant” intended to heal her. Her health, however, reportedly deteriorated, and after she attempted to leave, the cleric allegedly threatened to release her nude photos online — a threat that was later carried out.
The shocking revelations have sparked widespread condemnation across Ebonyi and beyond, with rights activists and faith leaders calling for accountability.
Mrs. Maduagwu condemned the act as “a grievous betrayal of trust by a supposed man of God,” alleging that similar clerics exploit desperate congregants through fake miracles, emotional manipulation, and financial extortion.
“These deceitful practices have plunged many families into debt and despair, while enriching a few under the guise of ministry,” she added.
She called on the Ebonyi Police Command to ensure that the bishop faces full prosecution, adding that “clerical authority must never be used as a shield against justice.”
The petition, copied to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ebonyi State Council, concluded with an appeal for a discreet but thorough investigation to protect the victim’s dignity and ensure due process.
Meanwhile, the victim and her family have reportedly sought police protection following alleged threats from the Bishop’s loyalists.
DSP Ukandu assured that the command is committed to a transparent investigation, emphasizing that justice will be served.
