A Magistrate Court in Umuahia North Magisterial District has sentenced pastor Uche Arua Kalu, 40, to 10 years imprisonment without an option of fine for def!ling a 4-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. (Miss) after the defendant pleaded guilty to the crime.
During the hearing, the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), ASP Iweajunwa, was called upon to present the facts of the case.
However, the defendant, Pastor Uche Arua Kalu, denied knowing what he was being accused of, contradicting his earlier guilty plea on December 20, 2024.
The Prosecuting Counsel, Chinedu Ikpa Esq., from the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Umuahia, reminded the court that the defendant had already confessed in the charge sheet, admitting that he had no idea what came over him when he committed the grievous c.rime
In a desperate plea for leniency, the defendant fell to his knees, begging the court for mercy and a reduced sentence.
He expressed fears of facing life imprisonment under Section 7(1)(2) of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law 2019, under which he was charged.
The prosecution presented undeniable evidence against the accused, including his own confession and the IPO’s investigative report.
Citing the case of Uket v. The State (2024) LPELR – 80009 (CA), the prosecution emphasized that for a defilement case to be proven, three key elements must be established:
1: The victim must be underage
2: The accused must have engaged in sexual intercourse with the child
3: The child’s consent is irrelevant in such cases
All these elements were clearly met in this case, leading the court to find the defendant guilty as charged.
After reviewing the case facts, the court ruled that Pastor Uche Arua Kalu had unlawful carnal knowledge of a 4-year-old girl.
Consequently, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison without an option of fine, effective March 7, 2025.
