A pastor of the Celestial Church, Omogbolahan Israel Idowu, has been detained by the Ogun State Police Command following allegations that he sexually abused his 16-year-old stepdaughter and threatened to kill her if she exposed him.
The case came to light after the Lagos State branch of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) submitted a petition to the police, accusing the pastor of abusing the teenager since she was 14 years old.
The petition, dated October 26, 2026, was addressed to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Shimawa Police Division in Ogun State.
According to the organisation, the alleged abuse began after the girl’s mother, Bukola Rachel Omogbolahan, married Idowu and moved into his home with her children in the Ologbo Ark area of Shimawa.
CDHR claimed that the pastor continued sexually abusing the girl even after she turned 16.
The organisation also alleged that Idowu threatened to kill the teenager if she told anyone about the abuse, leaving her and her elder brother afraid for their lives.
In its petition, CDHR called on the police to investigate the allegations, protect the children and ensure that the suspect faces prosecution if found guilty.
The group also requested that the minors be referred to appropriate child-protection and social-welfare services for assistance.
It supported its demands by citing the Child Rights Act 2003 and the Ogun State Child Rights Law.
Providing details of police action, CDHR disclosed that the Shimawa DPO personally received and acknowledged the petition on Tuesday, October 27.
Following the complaint, police invited Idowu, his wife and another Celestial Church pastor for questioning.
The organisation said Idowu and the teenager’s mother were detained after giving their statements.
On Wednesday, October 28, the girl was taken to Shimawa General Hospital for medical examinations. The results were later handed over to the police officers investigating the case.
CDHR further explained that the case files involving the pastor and his wife were transferred to the Ogun State Police Command headquarters in Eleweran on Friday, October 30.
The matter was subsequently moved to the D3 Gender Unit in Oke-Ilewo for further investigation.
According to the human rights organisation, Idowu admitted during proceedings at the gender unit that he had sexual contact with the teenager.
CDHR alleged that the pastor told investigators he had “only fingered her (name withheld) once and only had sex with her once.”
The organisation confirmed that Idowu remained in police detention at the gender unit while investigations continued.
It added that police had informed the group that the date and time of his arraignment would be communicated once investigations were completed.
Meanwhile, concerns remain over the safety of the teenager and her elder brother following allegations that the pastor threatened to kill the girl if she reported the abuse.
CDHR assured the police of its readiness to provide further information and present the victim and witnesses whenever required.
