…ordered to pay N1million to 16-year-old survivor

By Ike Uchechukwu CALABAR
A Family High Court in Calabar, Cross River State, has convicted and sentenced an alleged “self-proclaimed cleric,” Apostle Favour Mexy Okoise, to life imprisonment on multiple counts of rape, defiling a 16 year-old girl and false pretenses.

Okoise, an indigene of Esan West, Edo State, who formerly operated a fellowship before converting it into a full-fledged church, The Refiner’s Fire Church, was found guilty in two separate cases—HC-12C/2024 and HC-FC-5C/2024—on June 16 and 17, respectively.

Vanguard learned that Pastor Okoise was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment by Hon. Justice Blessing Egwu Obin sitting at High Court 12 and family court 2 at the conclusion of the trial.

He also received an additional sentence of life imprisonment for the rape of a minor, and was ordered to pay ₦1,000,000.00 in compensation to the 16-year-old survivor, the following day, June 17.

The first case involved three counts of rape of three different ladies and one count of obtaining by false pretenses, while the second focused on the rape of a 16-year-old minor.

It was gathered that the court proceedings which began in 2023, were initiated by the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP), under the leadership of Okoi E. Ukam, Esq., and prosecuted by Cletus Adama, Esq., both of the Cross River State Ministry of Justice.

A Legal practitioner, Doris Nduanusi, Esq., who watched brief on behalf of the victims, disclosed that Okoise manipulated young female members of the church by coercing them into sexual acts under the guise of spiritual initiation.

“He told them it was a rite of passage to be used by God and referred to it as a ‘special dealing’ with the Holy Spirit,” she said.

Vanguard reports that although the Ministry of Justice led the prosecution, significant support came from the Gender and Development Action (GADA), a civil society group led by Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo.

“It was a collaborative effort that ensured the voices of the victims were heard,” Nduanusi stated.

She explained that despite his conviction, the church members were reportedly told that the pastor was “on the mountain interceding for their destinies” since his remand in February 2024.

“It was only after the judgment that some began to realise they had been deceived for over a year,” Nduanusi added.

“The legal practitioner also alleged that the convicted pastor remained unrepentant throughout the trial, stressing that the act was noted by the presiding judge in her ruling.

“He showed no remorse for his actions,” the court observed.

Vanguard also learned that concerns have now shifted to the operational structure of the church, which has allegedly continued to function under a new location in the Nassarawa axis of the city, despite the conviction.

Citing the continued risk of psychological and physical harm on the congregants, Nduanusi empahsised that, “the government must take urgent steps to dismantle the entire structure that enabled such abuse.”

“There are reports that prominent local pastors maintained affiliations with the church even after being made aware of the allegations.

“It however remains unclear whether The Refiner’s Fire Church is officially registered under the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), though ties reportedly exist between the church and senior PFN officials,” she stated.

The Cross River State Ministry of Justice has continued to demonstrate its unwavering commitment to justice and the rule of law.

Checks by Vanguard showed that in the first and second quarters of 2025 alone, the Ministry has secured convictions in multiple serious cases, including attempted murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, rape, and arson.