A Magistrate Court in Umuahia North Magisterial District has sentenced Pastor Uche Arua Kalu to 10 years imprisonment without an option of fine for defiling a four-year-old girl in Amaogudu Abiriba, Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State. The judgment was delivered on Friday, March 7, 2025, by His Worship Onuoha U.C.
During the hearing, the Investigating Police Officer, ASP Iweajunwa, presented the facts of the case, which led to the defendant’s conviction. Despite initially pleading guilty to the crime on December 20, 2024, Pastor Kalu later denied knowledge of his offense, contradicting his earlier statement.
The prosecution, led by Chinedu Ikpa Esq., presented undeniable evidence against the accused, including his confession and the IPO’s investigative report. The prosecution emphasized that for a defilement case to be proved, three key elements must be established: the victim must be underage, the accused must have engaged in sexual intercourse with the child, and the child’s consent is irrelevant in such cases.
In a desperate plea for leniency, Pastor Kalu begged the court for mercy and a reduced sentence, expressing his fears of facing life imprisonment under Section 7(1)(2) of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law 2019.
The victim’s mother, Madam Ugo Obasi, a widow, narrated how the defendant, who was close to the family, took advantage of her absence to lure the girl to his house and defile her. The mother pleaded with the government to come to her assistance.
