The Ebonyi State Police Command has arrested Bishop Ndibueze Okorie Onyeagoziri, General Overseer of Champion the Truth Cathedral, for allegedly sexually exploiting a 22-year-old female church member suffering from sickle cell anaemia.
Police spokesperson, DSP Joshua Ukandu, confirmed the arrest on Thursday, stating that the cleric was in custody at the command headquarters in Abakaliki while investigations continued.
Ukandu said the suspect was picked up on Wednesday, October 1, following allegations that he lured the victim under the guise of offering spiritual healing.
In a viral video, the victim recounted how she began living in the church after an arrangement between her family and the bishop, who assured them that divine intervention would cure her condition.
She alleged that Onyeagoziri told her a seven-day sexual encounter with him would miraculously change her genotype from SS to AA.
Desperate for a cure, she said she complied, but her health deteriorated afterwards.
She further claimed that the cleric threatened to release intimate pictures of them if she attempted to leave.
According to her, the images were eventually circulated on social media, forcing her to return to her family home.
The bishop, however, denied the allegations, insisting he never had sexual relations with the victim.
He claimed his phone was stolen and that his alleged nude images were manipulated using artificial intelligence.
“My phone was stolen earlier this month. When attempts to extort me failed, the thieves doctored images to tarnish my reputation. Those pictures are fake,” Onyeagoziri maintained.
Police said the matter remains under investigation.