A sickle cell advocate, Aisha Maduagwu has withdrawn her petition before the Ebonyi State Police Command against a popular bishop in the state, Samuel Okorie, who was accused by a sickle cell patient, Euphemia of sexual harassing her for five years as the solution to her health condition.
The bishop has been in police custody for the past two weeks over the allegation.
Maduagwu, who was angry over the allegation, petitioned the state Commissioner of Police, Adaku Uche-Anya and Governor Francis Nwifuru, calling for the cleric’s immediate prosecution.
But the sickle cell advocate has made a U-turn on the petition, citing insincerity, deceit and blackmail in the sexual scandal.
She alleged that the sickle cell girl was being sponsored by a popular businessman and politician in the state and another cleric and that she was using her illness to curry sympathy.
“After my investigations with the testimonies from different quarters tied to the case, I am withdrawing my initial report against the bishop and providing clarity to promote understanding and healing.
“Consequently, I am formally withdrawing my initial report, believing this matter can be resolved amicably.
“I will state that as a sickle cell advocate for over a decade and still counting, I have fought for justice for vulnerable sickle cell persons.
“My investigation revealed that Bishop Sam Ndubueze entered into a consensual relationship with the sickle cell patient in 2022, after she was brought to him in 2021 by her father, mother, and sister.
“The sexual relationship with her was at the explicit approval of her father. This context according to common sense indicates the relationship was mutually agreed upon and not coercive.
“Since 2022, when their relationship began, the bishop provided extensive support to her, including purchasing a mini-bus for her school runs, funding her educational pursuits, placing her on a monthly salary, appointing her as second-in-command cum secretary in his ministry, and granting her decision-making authority.
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“These efforts reflect his commitment to her well-being despite her health challenges. At some point, she suffered from chronic leg ulcer, and was taken to the hospital by Bishop Sam Ndubueze, where she was fully nursed back to health and the leg ulcer cured.
“The patient was not a minor when they met and was already sexually active. She was 22 years old in 2021. Reports suggest she coerced the bishop into certain behaviours, including introducing him to pornography to enhance his libido, often teasing him as an old man to perform better sexually.
“This also challenge the narrative of one-sided abuse and points to mutual participation. No evidence supports her claims that the bishop threatened her with weapons like guns or knives, as alleged in a podcast interview.
“All sexual acts were consensual, and there were no threats to release her nudes publicly. Their practice of capturing nude photos on the bishop’s phone during private moments was consensual, initiated by her suggestion that he view them to increase arousal and satisfy her desires,” Maduagwu said.
