A magistrate court in Abakaliki has ordered the remand of Bishop Sam Onyeagoziri Ndubueze, leader of the Champion Cathedral Church, in the Abakaliki Correctional Centre over allegations of sexual misconduct.
The cleric faces accusations of engaging in unlawful carnal knowledge with a young woman, whose identity has been withheld, and allegedly sharing explicit pictures and videos of the act on social media.
Bishop Ndubueze was arraigned on a four-count charge that includes threats, fraud, and circulation of pornographic materials — offences said to contravene the Ebonyi State Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law (2018, amended 2024), the Criminal Code, and the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015.
When the case was called before Magistrate Chima Nkechi Happiness at Court 2, the magistrate ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter and ordered that the accused be remanded in custody at the Abakaliki Correctional Centre.
The court also directed that the original case file, evidence, and related documents be transferred to the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) for further action at a competent High Court.
According to the charge sheet, the alleged offences occurred in 2021 at Mile 50 Layout, Abakaliki. The charges include:
The DPP will review the case for legal advice and potential arraignment before a court with competent jurisdiction.
