The
Lagos State Police Command has rearrested a 40-year-old pastor, Alasco
Sobowale, 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.”
When contacted on the
telephone, the spokesperson for the state police command, Ngozi Braide,
confirmed the rearrest of the pastor, adding that he had been
transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba.
“The suspect has been transferred to the SCID for further investigation and he will be charged with rape and sodomy,” she said.
PUNCH Metro
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