Rose Nwenwu

Rose Nwenwu, a 43-year-old secretary at the Jubilee Christian Centre in Peckham, South London, has been imprisoned for her role as an accomplice in the sexual assaults committed by bishop Benjamin Egbujor against a teenage girl and a woman. The offences, which took place under the pretence of private prayer sessions, were detailed during proceedings at the Inner London Crown Court.

Nwenwu aided Egbujor in targeting vulnerable members of the congregation, including a girl under 16 who was lured into a 'special' prayer session where she was forced to undress and subjected to assault with oil. The investigation by the Metropolitan Police's Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Command (SOECA) revealed a pattern of abuse, including an assault on a woman in her 30s. Following the initial report from the girl's family, police connected the cases, leading to the arrests.

According to Police Constable James Bell of SOECA: 'Benjamin Egbujor and Rose Nwenwu preyed on their victims' vulnerabilities, whilst satisfying their own sexual urges under the guise of private prayer.' Nwenwu, from West Norwood, London, received a three-year prison sentence for sexual assault and a concurrent three-year term for helping and encouraging Egbujor. Like her co-offender, she was issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and must register as a sex offender.

Detective Inspector Angela Craggs remarked: 'Egbujor and Nwenwu exploited the trust of their congregation when they targeted and abused these victims. They believed their position within the church would protect them from facing justice, but the court has held them accountable for their actions. I hope this conviction serves to empower victims of sexual violence to come forward and report to police.' Authorities believe other potential victims may exist and have appealed for information. The church was contacted for a statement but provided none by publication time.