Church founder jailed for life over sexual abuse, false pretence
Apostle Okoise,
A High Court in Calabar, Cross River State, has sentenced a cleric, Apostle Favour Mexy Okoise, to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of multiple rape offences and obtaining by false pretences.
The shocking verdict has sent ripples through the religious community in the state.
The embattled church founder, an indigene of Esan West in Edo State, formerly ran a fellowship which he later converted into a church known as The Refiner’s Fire Church.
The court found him guilty in two separate criminal cases HC-12C/2024 and HC-FC-5C/2024 delivered on June 16 and 17, 2025, respectively.
The first case involved three counts of rape of three different women and one count of obtaining by false pretenses.
The second case centered on the molesting of a 16-year-old minor. Both cases were filed and prosecuted by the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP), under the Cross River State Ministry of Justice.
Court documents revealed disturbing details of how Okoise exploited his position as a religious leader to lure his victims under the guise of spiritual guidance, before sexually assaulting them.
The lead prosecutor, Cletus Adama, Esq., while speaking after the verdict, said, “This case highlights the importance of ensuring that religious institutions are not used as shields for predatory behavior. Justice has been served.”
The DPP, led by Okoi E. Ukam, Esq., initiated proceedings in 2023 following multiple complaints filed by the victims.
The state government commended the bravery of the survivors and assured the public that there would be no sacred cows when it comes to justice.
In his ruling, the presiding judge emphasised the severity of the offences and the need to send a strong deterrent message to others who may use religion as a cover for criminal activity.
“This Court finds the accused guilty as charged. The acts were deliberate, premeditated, and grievous in nature. He is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment,” the judge declared.
