Nigerians Question How a Pastor Accused of Raping a Minor Lead Worship for Months Before the Judge Finally Ordered His Remand?

Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.

A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Gwarinpa, Abuja, on Thursday ordered the remand of the founder of Prophetic Victory Voice of Fire Ministry, Pastor Amos Isah, over the alleged rape of a 14-year-old church member. Justice Modupe Osho-Adebiyi directed that the 39-year-old cleric be kept in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the submission of his previous bail records, which were not before the court. The order came after Isah pleaded not guilty to an eight-count charge that includes rape under the Child’s Rights Act 2003, sexual exploitation, coercion, emotional and psychological abuse, gross indecency, and the abduction of a minor.

The case dates back to June 2025, when Isah was first arrested by the police. He was arraigned on July 22, 2025, before a vacation judge, Justice J.E. Obanor, at an FCT High Court in Maitama. At that time, he also pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail on health grounds. According to Premium Times, the pastor was released from custody in August 2025 after securing bail. Following his release, he was reported to have resumed ministrations in his church, a decision that drew sharp criticism from child protection advocates.

The prosecution alleges that the incident took place on May 26, 2025, when Isah lured the teenage survivor, identified in court documents as B.Z.J., into the church’s newly constructed auditorium in Gwagwalada. The charge sheet, marked FCT/HC/CR/467/2024, states that the cleric locked the doors and forcefully had sexual intercourse with the minor without her consent. According to the amended charge sheet, after the alleged assault, Isah reportedly handed the victim N3,000 to purchase medication and then threatened to kill her and her entire family if she disclosed the incident to anyone. The case was later reassigned to Justice Osho-Adebiyi on March 11, 2026, following an application from the prosecution counsel, Aderonke Imana. At the resumed hearing on April 21, the defendant was not present in court, prompting the judge to issue a fresh order for his appearance.

When the trial resumed on Thursday, defence counsel O.U. Sule, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, informed the court that his client had previously been granted bail by another high court. However, Justice Osho-Adebiyi noted that the record of the bail and the details of the sureties were not before her. “His record of surety is not before the court; if I tell him to go, who am I releasing him to?” the judge asked. Sule persisted in his request that the defendant be released on his honour, but the judge declined. “Until I get the record, there is really not much I can do. You have not applied for bail before me,” she said. When Sule then made an oral bail application, the prosecution counsel opposed it, citing other court commitments. The judge further observed that the sureties were not in court and their documents were not before the court. She then ordered the defendant’s remand and adjourned the matter until June 30, 2026, for the commencement of trial.

The case has drawn widespread attention, not only because of the gravity of the allegations but also because the accused had been seen leading worship services in his church while out on bail. A video shared by the pastor on social media, showing him dancing energetically before an ecstatic congregation, resurfaced shortly before the court hearing, sparking outrage among those who felt the cleric had shown no remorse. The phrase “dancing pastor” began trending on social media, with many questioning how a person facing child rape charges could return to the pulpit.

Child protection advocates have welcomed the court’s decision to remand the pastor, describing it as a necessary step to protect the minor and to ensure the integrity of the judicial process. “This case should serve as a wake-up call to all religious institutions. No pulpit is a shield against the law,” said a spokesperson for a child rights group in Abuja. The FCT High Court has urged the defence to expeditiously produce the required bail documentation, while assuring the public that the case will proceed without further delay.

📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews