LAGOS STATE POLICE REARRESTS A PASTOR FOR RAPING A MINOR

A 40-year-old pastor, Alasco Sobowale, has been rearrested by the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly raping a 12-year-old girl in Epe area of the state. Police authorities said the suspect, who is a pastor at Okiki Imole Church, Epe, was rearrested on Thursday at his home located at 10, Togodo Street, Temu Town. The police had arrested Sobowale on December 21, 2012, for allegedly raping the minor but was later released on bail because courts were not in session. However, after PUNCH Metro published the story on Thursday, the policemen attached to Epe Division stormed his home and rearrested him. A police source, who craved anonymity, said, “The pastor should never have been released in the first place and the police high command is very much interested. If Sobowale was released because courts were not in session, why were all other suspects in police custody not granted bail as well? “Rape is a very serious offence and we will make sure that he is prosecuted. After the publication, many members of the community, including elders, rose against the pastor and promised to make sure that the case was pursued to a logical conclusion.” “The suspect has been transferred to the SCID Yaba for further investigation and he will be charged with rape and sodomy,” spokes person of state police command, Ngozi Braide said. Correspondents of Punch News reported that the victim had been referred to Epe General Hospital for medical treatment.