The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in Ebonyi State has yet to arraign a catechist accused of sexually abusing a three-year-old girl at St. Theresa Cathedral in Abakaliki, more than a year after the alleged incident.
The delay has renewed calls for the case to be reopened and thoroughly investigated, as the victim, now four years old, is reportedly experiencing serious health complications linked to the alleged abuse.
The incident reportedly occurred in 2025 when the girl, identified simply as Onyii, and her parents were living within the church premises.
The case resurfaced following a Facebook post by Ugama Steve, a humanist and aid worker, who raised concerns about the child’s deteriorating condition, the progress of the investigation and allegations of pressure on the family to discontinue the case.
According to Steve, the Public Relations Officer of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (AEFUTHA), contacted him last Thursday over the child’s medical condition.
He said the girl had been taken back to the hospital by her mother after developing a foul-smelling vaginal discharge.
Steve quoted the doctor managing the case as confirming that the child had suffered sexual abuse when she was first brought to the hospital the previous year.
“The effect of the rape is what she is still suffering. The doctor said the girl needs to be repaired. She is currently on antibiotics,” he wrote.
The victim’s mother reportedly identified the catechist at St. Theresa Cathedral, where the family previously resided, as the person responsible for the alleged abuse.
The suspect was arrested after the incident but was subsequently released on bail.
Steve said he contacted the police officer investigating the case and was informed that the investigation file had been completed and forwarded to the DPP’s office for legal advice. However, the suspect has yet to be arraigned.
The case has also raised concerns over the victim’s family circumstances and the level of support available to the child and her mother.
According to Steve, the girl’s father said he was no longer interested in pursuing the matter, claiming it had caused disagreements between him and his wife.
He further alleged that the father had remarried and continued working as a driver at the cathedral, while the mother and child had been forced to leave the church premises.
Steve also recounted his attempt to obtain clarification from the church administration, saying the cathedral administrator disputed the allegation against the catechist and questioned whether the mother could establish his responsibility.
According to Steve’s account, the administrator instead accused the mother of being responsible for the child’s condition and described her as troublesome and potentially mentally unstable. These claims have not been independently verified.
The mother, however, reportedly maintained that church officials pressured her and her husband to withdraw the complaint, accusing her of fighting against the church.
While the father allegedly agreed to abandon the case, the mother refused to do so.
Steve said he had informed the investigating police officer of his request for the case to be reopened for further investigation. He added that attempts to reach the accused catechist had been unsuccessful.
The matter took another turn when the victim’s paternal uncle reportedly contacted Steve and warned him to stay away from the case.
Appealing for public support, Steve urged Nigerians to help draw attention to the matter and ensure that the suspect was brought back into custody if warranted by the investigation.
The case has renewed concerns about delays in prosecuting alleged child sexual abuse, the protection of vulnerable victims and the need for timely, impartial investigations, regardless of the status or affiliations of those accused.
As of the time of the report, there was no indication that the DPP had arraigned the suspect, while the allegations against him remained subject to due legal process.
