A pastor identified as Simon Okehielem, popularly known as Ebube Wonder, has been arraigned before an Edo State High Court over allegations of raping a married woman and fathering a child through the act.
The case, brought forward by the Edo State Police Command, followed a DNA test that confirmed the clergyman’s biological link to the child despite his earlier denial.
The case, which dates back to March 2024, began in the Ugolor community of Edo State, where Pastor Simeon Okehielem allegedly raped a married woman, which resulted in the conception of a child.
According to the Counsel to the
complainant Barr. Collins Ogbebor, the victim petitioned the Commissioner of Police, prompting an investigation and Despite initial difficulties in locating the suspect, Pastor Simeon was recently apprehended after months of evading arrest.
Following his arrest, a DNA test was ordered, and the result showed a 99.9% paternity match between the child and the accused.
This critical evidence prompted his re-arrest and subsequent arraignment before the Edo State High Court, Criminal Division.
During the court proceedings, the presiding judge, Justice Erhabor, ordered that the accused be remanded at the Benin Correctional Facility pending further action.
The court also directed that the case file be duplicated and forwarded to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.
On his part, Counsel To Defendant, Barr. Samson Okeheilem who disagreed on the arraignment calling it injustice, said the fundamental rights application filed to put the police on notice and to restrain them was on course, noting that the police hurriedly took his client to court just to embarrass, humiliate him and call him a fake pastor.
In an interview with newsmen after the arraignment, Counsel to Complainant , Clinton Ogbebor expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Police Force for the professionalism with which they handled the investigation and subsequently arraigned the suspect in court.
“We are in court today in respect of alleged case of rape against one Pastor Simeon Okehielem popularly referred to as Ebube Wonder of Ebube Wonders Synagogue Prayers Ministry, a.k.a. “Healing And Deliverance Mountain” who sometime at the month of March 2024 raped one Mrs. Isoken Aigbedo Owie, who is a housewife to Aigbedo Owe somewhere around Uholor Community here in Benin City.The case of rape led to the birth of a certain child which I would not want to disclose her name now.
“Sequel to same, the lady in question who is my client wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police wherein investigation commenced since last year. And all this while the police have been trying to track the said suspect the pastor to no avail.
“Until recently, the police were able to arrest him and sequel to same, a DNA paternity test was conducted on the child which the victim (Mrs. Isoken Aigbedo alleged that the pastor impregnated her during the cause of this rape. So the paternity test came out sometime last week, and it was a read to the audience sometime this Monday, wherein it was disclosed that Pastor Simeon Okehielem was the father of the child. By the DNA test, he was 99.9% as the father. Upon that development, the police moved into action and rearrested him and today, be the 10th day of July 2025, they decide to arraign him before the State High Court here particularly the Criminal Division wherein he has been remanded to Benin correctional Centre here in Benin City.
“The court has also made an order to the effect that the case file should be duplicated to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) here in Benin City for legal advice. So, we’ll take it off from there.”he said.
