Prophet Held Over Missing Girl

A 47-year old man, Destiny Ikwu, who claimed to be a prophet has been dragged before the Itire Magistrate’s Court, Lagos Southwest Nigeria, over a missing lady, Blessing Monday, 26.

The suspect is the founder of Jehovah Sabbath Ministry on 3A, Karonwi Street, Itire, Lagos.

Police report revealed that Prophet Destiny took the missing lady to an unknown destination for spiritual cleansing without the consent of her relations and in the process impregnated her.

In her statement to the police, the elder sister to the missing lady, Dorcas Monday, stated: “Prophet Destiny took my younger sister from Lagos to Aba on 31 December, 2010 and up till now she is yet to be seen. We used to speak with her on phone and she told us that she was suffering and that we should send some money to her.”

“We later discovered that the account number she gave to us belonged to Prophet Destiny. We have been unable to reach her through her phone for the past two months.”

Investigations revealed that Dorcas reported the matter to the police and Destiny was arrested and arraigned in court.

When the matter came up in court on 1 March, the accused stripped himself naked and pretended to be mentally disturbed but the court saw through his antics and refused to grant him bail.

Count one of the two-count charge reads: “That you, Destiny Ikwu, on 31 December, 2010 at 3A, Karonwi Street, Itire in the Itire Magisterial District did abduct one Blessing Monday, 26 to an unknown destination and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 361 of the Criminal Code, Cap.C.38, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2004.”

Count two reads: ”That you, Destiny Ukwu, on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid magisterial district did conduct yourself in a manner likely to cause the breach of the peace by taking custody of one Blessing Monday, 26 without the consent of any of her relations and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 249 (d) of the Criminal Code, Cap.C.38, Laws of  Lagos State of Nigeria, 2004.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and the presiding magistrate, Mrs. Christiana Ikpatt, adjourned the case till 23 March, 2011, pending an advice from the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP.

—Henrietta Ikhile