Kakata, Margibi County — Nigerian pastor Ernest Ihejiemeounu, who is currently facing statutory rape and related charges, has issued a public statement denying the allegations and alleging that he is the target of a coordinated campaign to discredit him and his ministry.
In a message shared on social media and addressed to his followers, the pastor claimed that unnamed individuals have repeatedly attempted to “bring down” his ministry, describing the current case as the fourth such effort. He accused journalists of failing to exercise due diligence and investigative rigor in reporting the matter.
Ihejiemeounu referenced a woman he identified as Bendu Sonnie, alleging that she was arrested on February 9, 2026, over what he described as a “sex scandal” accusation against him. According to the pastor, the accuser initially presented herself as 22 years old but later reduced her age to 17, a change he claims altered the nature of the case to statutory rape.
He further alleged that during police investigations, authorities discovered that the complainant had participated in Liberia’s 2023 general elections and possessed a voter registration card, facts he said were acknowledged by family members and other witnesses. Based on this, he claimed that the rape allegation was dismissed during the police investigation and that the remaining issues under review were sexual abuse of a ward and criminal facilitation.
The pastor also asserted that the alleged victim failed to appear in court during earlier proceedings, with only an uncle reportedly present. He expressed surprise that, upon reaching court, the charges were amended to statutory rape and criminal abortion, which he characterized as an attempt to satisfy what he described as ulterior motives.
In his statement, Ihejiemeounu warned the public about what he said was a fake social media page using his name and photograph, which he claimed was being used to carry out “wicked acts.” He emphasized that his statement was not an appeal for public sympathy but an effort to inform his followers and encourage them to “read between the lines.”
Addressing members of his church, Light of God, the pastor urged them to continue church activities in his absence, expressing confidence that God would ultimately vindicate him. He likened his situation to biblical accounts involving apostles Peter, Paul, and Silas, whom he said endured persecution before deliverance.
Meanwhile, the Liberia National Police and the 13th Judicial Circuit Court have not publicly responded to the claims raised in the pastor’s statement. Legal proceedings remain ongoing, and the case continues under judicial review.
