Nigerian justice has spoken. The Lagos State Special Offences Court sentenced Chris Douglas , general superintendent of the Peculiar Generation Assembly Church , to life imprisonment on Thursday. The 63-year-old was found guilty of repeatedly abusing the daughter of one of his parishioners.

An abuse of spiritual power

Judge Rahman Oshodi, presiding in Ikeja, condemned the convicted man's actions, emphasizing that he had used his position of religious authority to betray the trust of a vulnerable family. The incident occurred in a hotel, where the victim and her relatives had sought his spiritual guidance .

The court highlighted the devastating aftereffects for the young woman, who now suffers from:

1. Severe depression.
2. Recurrent suicidal thoughts.

The overwhelming evidence from the trial

The accusation, brought by Dr. Babajide Martins, was based on strong testimonies and medical evidence:

1. The modus operandi: The victim claimed to have been drugged before being attacked in September 2017.
2. The initial confession: The victim's mother testified that she had confronted the pastor. At the time, he reportedly admitted to the acts, invoking a "spiritual influence" to justify his actions while asking for forgiveness.
3. The defense was rejected: Chris Douglas attempted to plead consensual relationship, a version dismissed by the court due to lack of evidence and the strength of the medical testimony.

An exemplary conviction

Although acquitted on six counts, the pastor was found guilty of three rapes .

Verdict: The judge handed down life imprisonment for each of these charges (sentences to be served simultaneously).

In addition to his detention, Chris Douglas's name has been officially entered on the Lagos State sex offenders register , marking a firm commitment to tackling abuse within religious institutions.