Defilement: One Year After, Mother Seeks Justice for Alleged Sexually Abused of 3-Year-Old Daughter by Catechist
From Nabob Ogbonna, Abakaliki
A mother in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, is seeking justice for her daughter, who was allegedly sexually abused at the age of three by a suspected catechist at St. Theresa Cathedral, Abakaliki, with the child reportedly experiencing medical complications more than a year after the incident.
The case has resurfaced following concerns reportedly raised by the Public Relations Officer of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (AE-FUTHA), over the child’s current medical condition.
Reports indicate that the four-year-old girl, identified as Chidinma, is experiencing vaginal discharge, prompting her mother to return with her to the hospital for further medical attention.
The mother has consistently alleged that the suspected catechist took advantage of her daughter while the family was living within the premises of St. Theresa Cathedral last year.
A doctor involved in the child’s treatment reportedly confirmed that she was brought to the hospital following the alleged sexual abuse.
The suspected catechist was reportedly arrested by the police but later released on bail in 2025.
However, in a statement issued on Wednesday, the Ebonyi State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, confirmed that the case had been investigated and forwarded to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice, which was still pending as of the date of the statement.
According to the statement, the Nigeria Police Force, Ebonyi State Command, acknowledged a publication alleging the sexual abuse of a child at Abakaliki Cathedral and clarified the circumstances surrounding the case.
The police said they received a complaint from the child’s mother on September 1, 2025, alleging that her daughter, Chidinma Cynthia James, who was three years old at the time, had been sexually assaulted on August 22, 2025, at about 8:30 a.m.
The alleged incident reportedly occurred at the residence of Mr. Herbert Obioma Okoro.
According to the police statement, the mother said her daughter had gone outside to play and was seen holding hands with another child, aged about four years.
She reportedly became worried when she noticed that her daughter was missing and began searching for her, while also asking neighbours if they had seen the child.
The neighbours allegedly told her they had not seen her.
The mother further told the police that when her daughter eventually returned, she asked where she had been, and the child reportedly said she was coming from the residence of Okoro.
She also observed that the child was limping and subsequently took her to a hospital, where, according to her account, a medical examination indicated that the child had been sexually abused.
Following the complaint, the police said they commenced an investigation and arrested Okoro, Nkechi Obioma Okoro and Adanna Obioma Okoro.
The statement explained that the complainant had identified the three individuals and expressed suspicion that they might have knowledge of what happened to her daughter.
However, the suspects reportedly denied that the child had visited their residence and maintained that they had no knowledge of what had happened to her.
The police said that, upon concluding their investigation, they forwarded a copy of the case file to the DPP in October 2025, requesting legal advice based on the facts and evidence gathered.
In May 2026, the Command said it sent a reminder regarding the request but had yet to receive the legal advice as of the date of the statement.
The police stressed that the case had been investigated and referred to the appropriate legal authority for advice.
“The matter remains subject to the outcome of that process, and the Command will take the necessary steps in accordance with the law upon receipt of the DPP’s advice,” the statement said.
The Command reiterated its commitment to protecting children and ensuring that allegations of crime were handled with the seriousness and diligence they deserved.
Meanwhile, the child’s mother alleged that the incident contributed to the breakdown of her marriage, claiming that her husband subsequently married another woman and that she and her daughter were forced to leave the cathedral premises.
She also expressed concern that some people had accused her of fighting the church over the matter.
“The incident contributed to problems in my marriage, after which my husband married another woman. Because of this matter, the church forcefully asked me and my daughter to leave the cathedral premises, while my husband continued working with the church as a driver,” she said.
However, the cathedral administrator reportedly disputed the mother’s account, maintaining that she had failed to establish that the catechist was responsible for the alleged abuse.
He also reportedly accused the mother of being responsible for the child’s condition and questioned her conduct. The allegations against the mother have not been independently verified.
When contacted, the child’s father reportedly expressed no interest in pursuing the matter, saying the incident had caused problems in his marriage.
The suspected catechist could not be reached for comment as of the time of filing this report.
The case has raised concerns about child protection, accountability and access to justice, particularly in cases involving allegations of sexual abuse of minors. The pending DPP’s advice is expected to determine the next legal steps in the matter.
