ABUJA, NIGERIA – A high-profile sexual assault case involving a prominent Abuja clergyman has taken a dramatic turn, with new allegations emerging that the pastor visited the teenage victim’s family at night to beg for forgiveness on the eve of his rescheduled trial.
Pastor Amos Isah, founder of a growing ministry in the Federal Capital Territory, is accused of the rape of a 14-year-old member of his church’s media unit. The case, which has been dormant for nine months following the pastor’s arrest and denial, is scheduled to resume before a new judge on May 14, 2026.
According to court documents and statements from the victim’s family, the alleged assault occurred on May 26, 2025. The teenager, a volunteer in the church’s media department, was reportedly summoned to the pastor’s private office under the pretense of a church assignment.
Upon her arrival, Pastor Isah allegedly locked the doors and assaulted her. Following the incident, he reportedly gave the minor ₦3,000 (approximately $4 USD) and threatened to kill her if she disclosed the assault to anyone. The family reported the incident to the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, leading to the pastor’s initial arrest on June 18, 2025.
When arraigned in court the following month, Pastor Isah entered a plea of not guilty, citing a medical defense of pulmonary tuberculosis as grounds for his detention conditions.
As the new trial date approached in May 2026, the family alleged that Pastor Isah orchestrated a nighttime visit to their residence. A video recording obtained by this reporter shows the clergyman on his knees, begging the parents and the teenage victim for forgiveness.
Please, for the sake of God, forgive me, the pastor is heard saying in the local dialect, though he stopped short of admitting to the specific charge of rape.
The family further alleges that the night visit was preceded by multiple attempts to silence them. Sources close to the investigation claim that an unidentified Bishop offered the family a N2 million bribe to drop the charges. This followed an earlier offer of N500,000, which was also rejected.
They are trying to turn justice into a transaction, the victim’s father said, speaking on condition of anonymity to protect his daughter’s identity. We want the court to do its job.
Legal analysts following the case note that it falls within a disturbing trend of rising sexual violence in Nigeria. According to a recent report by Amnesty International, cases of sexual assault increased by 33% nationwide throughout 2025.
Critics argue that religious institutions have often shielded predatory figures. A leaked audio recording reportedly tied to Pastor Isah’s former congregation suggests a potential pattern of behavior, alleging that he targeted vulnerable women under the guise of prophetic counsel.
The case has been reassigned to a new judge in the FCT High Court after the previous judge recused themselves. The prosecution is expected to call the teenage victim as a primary witness, alongside forensic experts and the family members who recorded the controversial night visit.
The police have confirmed that Pastor Isah remains out on bail but is required to surrender his passport and report to the station weekly. If convicted of the rape of a minor, Pastor Isah faces a potential sentence of life imprisonment under Nigerian child protection laws.
The court is scheduled to reconvene on May 14, 2026, at 9:00 AM.
