A Magistrate Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, ordered the remand of Bishop Sam Onyeagoziri Ndubueze, founder of Champion Cathedral Church, over alleged sexual abuse and related offences involving a 22-year-old female congregant.
The bishop was arraigned by the police on a four-count charge bordering on unlawful sexual intercourse obtained through threats and deceit, issuing threats to life, fraudulent conduct, and the circulation of pornographic content.
Prosecutor Catherine Ajibo told the court that the alleged crimes took place in 2021 at Mile 50 Layout, Abakaliki, and violated provisions of Section 358 of the Criminal Code, Cap 33, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State, and Section 20(1) of the Ebonyi State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2024 (as amended).
Counsel to the accused, Friday Agbom, sought bail for his client, but Chief Magistrate Nike Chima declined the request, ruling that the nature of the allegations placed the case beyond the jurisdiction of the magistrate court.
Justice Chima ordered that the case file be forwarded to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice and possible reassignment to a higher court.
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Pending the DPP’s review, the defendant was remanded at the Abakaliki Correctional Centre.
The case was adjourned to November 4, 2025, for mention.
As of press time, neither the Ebonyi State Police Command nor the Ministry of Justice had issued a public statement on the matter.