Benin pastor rape case sees shocking twist as DNA confirms child’s paternity. Cleric remanded as court awaits legal advice from Edo State DPP’s office
A Benin-based pastor, Okehielem Simeon, has been remanded in a correctional centre for allegedly raping and impregnating a married woman who is a member of his church.
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The case has shocked the Uholor community in Edo State, where the accused leads the Ebube Wonders Synagogue Prayers Ministry.
The court ordered the remand after a DNA test confirmed Simeon as the biological father of the child allegedly conceived through the rape.
Justice A.N. Erhabor of the Benin Criminal Division made the ruling on 10 July 2025, pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution.
The police allege that the rape occurred in February 2022 after Simeon gave the victim, Mrs Isoken Vivian Aigbedo, a substance to swallow.
Legal documents show that the suspect faces two charges: rape and administering a drug to commit a felony.
Efforts to locate the pastor had stalled the case for over a year. However, following the DNA confirmation, authorities moved swiftly to arrest him.
The paternity result reportedly shows a 99.9 percent match, strengthening the prosecution’s case.
Clinton Ogbebor, counsel to the complainant, confirmed the findings and the court’s decision. “Upon this, the police moved into action and rearrested him,” he told reporters. “The case file will now go to the DPP for advice.”
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The pastor, popularly known as Ebube Wonder, had long denied involvement. The case has sparked public outrage, with calls for a swift and transparent trial.
