Pastor Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Raping Teenage "Spiritual Daughter."

Calabar, Cross River State – In a landmark ruling, Pastor Favour Maxy Okoise, the General Overseer of Refiners Fire Global Assembly, has been found guilty of rape and sentenced to life imprisonment. The conviction stems from the sexual assault of a 16-year-old "spiritual daughter" in Calabar, a case that has drawn significant attention to the issue of sexual abuse within religious contexts.

The Perpetrator- Pastor Favour Maxy Okoise, the General Overseer of Refiners Fire Global Assembly,

The judgment, delivered at the Family Court by His Lordship, Hon. Justice Blessing Egwu Obin, found Okoise guilty of exploiting the minor between November and December 2016, within the Calabar South Local Government Area. The Ministry of Justice prosecuted the case, with Gender and Development Action (GADA) acting as nominal parties, represented by Barrister Doris Nduanusi.

The survivor, whose name has been withheld to protect her identity, arrived in Calabar in August 2016 for her Post-UTME examination. She was residing with her elder sister at Goldie Street, a location frequently visited by the convicted pastor who often shared "spiritual knowledge."

According to the survivor's testimony, Okoise subjected her to repeated sexual harassment, including inappropriate touching. When his attempts to have intercourse were initially unsuccessful, he allegedly indoctrinated her, claiming "God needed her body as much as her spirit and soul." He further manipulated her by stating he could "transfer spiritual virtues" through sexual acts, coercing her into intercourse under the guise of serving God and being her "spiritual father."

During the verdict delivery, Justice Blessing Egwu Obin, after a thorough cross-examination of witnesses and review of presented exhibits and facts, declared that "the defendant had unlawful carnal knowledge of O.P.I (the survivor) as a minor." Citing the Cross River State Child Rights Law, 2023, the court sentenced Favour Maxy Okoise to life imprisonment and ordered him to pay N1 million in compensation to the survivor.

Barrister Doris Nduanusi, GADA's lawyer who closely followed the case from its inception, lauded the court's decision and GADA's instrumental role. "We need more activists, we need more voices to be heard to let the society know that these kinds of ills that are happening can be stopped and there are punishments for such actions," she stated.

GADA expressed immense satisfaction with the judgment, hailing it as a significant victory for the organization, for voiceless victims, and for the judiciary. They believe the ruling will serve as a strong deterrent to potential perpetrators of rape.

Barrister Asibong Asi, Program Officer for Legal, Training, and Justice Sector at GADA, emphasized that the judgment sends a clear warning to those who abuse minors, reinforcing the Cross River State Child Rights Law, 2023, which unequivocally states that children cannot consent to sexual acts.

GADA is actively implementing its "Reducing Gender-Based Violence in Cross River State" project. Given that the perpetrator led a fellowship largely comprising University of Calabar (UNICAL) students, the project is particularly relevant. Their "Campus Square" initiative provides a vital platform for students to safely share experiences and speak out against gender-based violence.

In a continued effort to address GBV, particularly emphasizing male responsibility, GADA hosted a Stakeholders' Forum on June 18, 2025. This forum brought together male youth and women's groups from faith communities to promote male responsibility, challenge harmful gender norms, and leverage positive religious texts to advocate for non-violent behavior and gender equity.