Court remands Ebonyi bishop over alleged sex scandal

The Bishop of the Champion Cathedral Church, Sam Onyeagoziri Ndubueze, has been remanded in prison custody by a magistrate court in Ebonyi State. 

The court sitting in Abakaliki, the state capital ordered the remand of Bishop Ndubueze, in the correctional centre over alleged sex scandal.

The bishop was accused of having unlawful carnal knowledge of a young lady (name withheld) and allegedly sharing explicit pictures and videos of the act on social media.

The Magistrate Court 2, Abakaliki, presided over by Chima Nkechi Happiness ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter and ordered that the accused person be remanded at the Abakaliki Correctional Centre, and referred the case file to the state Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, for advice.

Ndubueze was arraigned before the court on a four-count charge bordering on threats, fraud, and the circulation of pornographic materials, contrary to various provisions of the Ebonyi State Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law (2018, amended 2024), the Criminal Code, and the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention Act 2015, among others.

Ndubueze was further accused of committing the offences in 2021 at Mile 50 Layout, Abakaliki.

He was also accused of having unlawful carnal knowledge of the victim through threats and fraudulent representation, contrary to Section 358 of the Criminal Code Cap 33 Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State.

He had reportedly threatened the victim’s life with firearm, causing her extreme fear, in violation of Section 12(1)(a)(b) of the Ebonyi State Internal Security Enforcement and Related Matters Law, 2009, as well as 

knowingly transmitting pornographic materials via computer systems, an offence punishable under Section 24(2)(I) of the Cybercrimes Act (2015, amended 2024).

Ndubueze was furthermore, accused of 

emotionally and psychologically abusing the victim by circulating her nude photographs on social media, in contravention of Section 20(1) of the Ebonyi State Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law, 2018.