The Association of People Living with Sickle Cell Disorder (APLSCD) has petitioned the Nigeria Police Force, Ebonyi State Command, demanding swift and thorough justice for a young woman living with sickle cell disorder who was allegedly sexually exploited by detained cleric Sam Ndubueze Onyeagoziri Okorie.
The petition, signed by Aisha Edwards Maduagwu—National Coordinator of APLSCD and Director of the Sickle Cell Orphanage and Underprivileged Home, Agulu—called on the police to ensure the matter receives the full weight of the law.
In the document addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Command, and copied to the Nigeria Union of Journalists in the state, Mrs. Maduagwu also recalled her personal encounter with the same bishop, alleging that he sexually harassed her in 1997 while serving as Principal of Victory International Bible College in Asata, Enugu.
The case involves a 22-year-old woman with sickle cell disorder who reportedly approached the bishop for prayers and counselling. Instead, she was allegedly subjected to what Maduagwu described as “marathon sexual exploitation and intimidation.”
According to the petition, the bishop coerced the victim into a week-long sexual encounter under the pretext that the act would miraculously transform her genotype from SS to AA.
“As a long-standing sickle cell advocate dedicated to supporting victims of exploitation and driving systemic change in how sickle cell persons are treated, I make this undersigned release in solidarity with a sickle cell victim (name withheld) who was sexually exploited by Bishop Sam Ndubueze Onyeagoziri Okorie, the General Overseer of Champion the Truth Cathedral,” the petition reads.
Maduagwu stated that she was also a victim of the cleric in 1997 at Victory International Bible College, where he allegedly sexually harassed her while she was a student.
“I call upon the Ebonyi State Police Command to treat this case diligently in order to uncover any similar incidents that may have gone unreported due to fear of stigma,” she said.
She described the accused as “an older man and a bishop who ought to have been a source of moral guidance and support, not a predator,” adding that the act amounted to a gross betrayal of trust.
“The sickle cell patient, already battling physical and emotional challenges, sought solace from a religious leader she saw as a father figure. Instead, she faced marathon sexual exploitation and threats that compounded her suffering,” Maduagwu added.
She explained that her own encounter with the bishop left her faith shaken.
“My own experience of harassment by this bishop further underscores his pattern of abuse, exploiting his authority to prey on the vulnerable. These acts not only harm individuals but also erode the foundations of faith. Since the harassment, I have not viewed Pentecostal churches the same way. I found solace in the Catholic Church through Bishop Gbuji of the Enugu Catholic Diocese, who rehabilitated me through Rev. Fr. Dr. Tony Iloanusi,” she narrated.
Maduagwu further alleged that the bishop engaged in financial exploitation of desperate congregants, including people living with chronic illnesses, by offering fake miracles in exchange for “seed offerings” and ritualistic payments.
“These predatory tactics push vulnerable households deeper into poverty while perpetrators enrich themselves under the guise of ministry. Such exploitation leaves parents frustrated and sometimes turning against their children, blaming them for their suffering,” she wrote.
She stressed that part of her advocacy as founder of APLSCD and Executive Director of the Sickle Cell Orphanage and Underprivileged Home in Agulu, Anambra State, is to ensure that sickle cell patients and survivors of abuse have access to healthcare, counselling, and legal protection.
“There must be full accountability for every perpetrator abusing sickle cell persons, with charges pursued to the full extent of the law. No position or authority should shield anyone from justice,” she added.
Maduagwu urged the Commissioner of Police and the investigative team to handle the case with urgency and discretion.
“We implore the Commissioner and the investigative team to prioritize this case, ensuring the Bishop’s detention leads to comprehensive justice for all victims. Silence or inaction risks perpetuating the cycle of abuse,” she said.
Meanwhile, police sources confirmed that the suspect was arrested on Wednesday, October 1, and remains in custody as investigations continue.
