Priest charged with rape, steps away from ministry

A Roman Catholic priest serving in the Diocese of Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines was on Monday charged with rape and indecent assault.

Kizito Igwebudul, a national of Nigeria, appeared in camera at the Family Court (sitting at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court) on October 23 before Magistrate John Ballah, where the indictable charges were laid against him.

The priest was charged with two counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault against a teenage female, SEARCHLIGHT was informed. He was not required to plea to the indictable charge.

Igwebudul was granted composite bail in the sum of $8000 with one surety, and was ordered to have no contact with the virtual complainant. He is also to report to the Mesopotamia Police Station every Friday between 6 am and 6 pm. He is to surrender all travel documents, and stop notices are to be placed at every point of entry and exit.

The priest has also stepped away from Ministry in the Roman Catholic (RC) Church, pending the outcome of the investigations.

In a letter to members of the RC Diocese of Kingstown, Bishop Gerard County, who accompanied Igwebudul to court on Monday, said the Diocese learned about a “serious allegation against a priest in active Ministry in our Diocese” on October 19.

The letter, dated October 20, a copy of which SEARCHLIGHT has obtained, said a meeting was “immediately convened with the priest against whom the accusation was made, and a decision was taken for him to step away from Ministry until the matter is fully investigated and resolved”.

Bishop County said the Diocese will “cooperate fully with law enforcement officials to get to the bottom of these accusations so that justice can be achieved for all the parties involved”.

He also said the Diocese will continue to “sensitize the clergy, religious and laity about appropriate ways to interact with people while serving others through their various ministries”.