A pastor based in Abuja, accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl, has returned to leading church services after being granted bail from detention on medical grounds.
Amos Isah, the General Overseer and founder of the Prophetic Voice of Fire Ministry International in Gwagwalada, Abuja, posted a video on social media on Sunday, showing him energetically leading a joyous congregation during a church service.
The cleric, who had been in police custody since his arrest on 18 June, spent over five weeks with the Force Criminal Investigation Department before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja approved his release on bail on 25 July.
Justice Enobie Obanor granted the bail request after Mr Isah submitted that he was battling “pulmonary tuberculosis which has progressively deteriorated into a severe form of obstructive airway disease.”
He claimed the illness developed while he was in detention.
Despite the health concerns cited in court, videos emerged just days after his release showing Mr Isah back in action, ministering to a cheering crowd of church members who gave him a rousing reception.
Following his release on bail, Premium Times reported that Amos Isah resumed church activities, holding services on 31 July, 2 August, and again on Sunday, 3 August.
Videos shared on his official Facebook page showed that the Sunday gathering drew the largest turnout. In one of the clips, ushers in suits could be seen forming a human barricade around the pulpit to control the excited crowd.
The cleric had earlier been taken into custody on 18 June by police over allegations of raping a 14-year-old girl who served in the church’s media department.
During a visit to the hospital on 30 June for medical attention related to the alleged assault, the teenager, whose identity remains undisclosed to avoid stigmatization, spoke with Premium Times.
She revealed that the incident occurred on 26 May but initially remained silent due to fear.
According to the girl, Mr Isah summoned her to his office, where the assault allegedly took place. She later confided in a friend, who encouraged her to open up to her parents.
After she informed her parents, her father promptly lodged a complaint with the police.
She also said she began experiencing abdominal pains and bleeding weeks after the alleged incident, prompting a medical examination.
The police arrested Mr Isah and later filed four charges against him, including rape, acts of indecency, and physical violence.
He appeared before the FCT High Court on 22 July and pleaded not guilty to all allegations.
The charges are based on the provisions of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015—specifically Sections 1(2), 2(1), and 3—as well as Section 285 of the Penal Code, 2015.
Legal Dispute Over Bail
In the aftermath of his arraignment, Mr Isah sought bail by filing a motion backed with an affidavit, citing deteriorating health and a clean legal history.
The police challenged his application by submitting a counter-affidavit that questioned the authenticity of his medical documents.
Despite the opposition, Justice Enobie Obanor approved his bail application. The judge stated that the court “notes with concern the visible signs of ill-health observed during the hearing, notably a persistent and uncontrollable cough fit exhibited” by the accused.
The judge further ruled that since the charges were not capital offences, bail was permissible. He set the bail conditions at N5 million, with two sureties who must be residents of the Federal Capital Territory and hold civil service positions not below Grade Level 12.
Rising Rape Cases in 2025
The case is unfolding amid rising alarm over the surge in sexual abuse incidents across Nigeria, especially those involving minors. Survivors, particularly children, are often left with deep emotional, psychological, and developmental scars.
Reports from January had already flagged disturbing patterns of rape incidents, highlighting increasing dangers faced by girls.
The National Human Rights Commission recorded a notable rise in reported rape cases as of March, further emphasizing the gravity of the problem.
One high-profile conviction came in May, when the FCT High Court sentenced Abdulhameed Ahmed, aged 27, to life in prison for raping a 15-year-old girl.
Mr Ahmed’s case was particularly significant for its swift handling, contrasting with the slow pace of justice seen in many similar cases where perpetrators often walk free. Prosecution lapses, including witness withdrawal and insufficient evidence, frequently result in abandoned trials and acquittals.