Priest Denies Sexual Assault Charges, by Pat Grossmith, Union Leader, September 16, 2006

Priest Denies Sexual Assault Charges

By Pat Grossmith
Union Leader
September 16, 2006

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Manchester – Sexual assault charges against a Roman Catholic priest are preposterous and false, his attorney and a friend said yesterday after his arraignment.

The Rev. John Lawani, 40, of 145 Lowell St. entered innocent pleas in Manchester District Court to nine misdemeanor charges alleging he physically and sexually assaulted a woman.

Lawani said nothing during the nine-minute hearing.

The Rev. John O. Lawani, walks into his arraignment in Manchester District Court yesterday.
Photo by Thomas Roy

He is accused of improper bodily contact ; repeatedly kissing the woman on the cheek and neck; and grabbing her with his arms and also by the wrist, preventing her from leaving his office at St. George Church, 516 Pine St. The offenses allegedly occurred between Oct. 29 and Sept. 6.

Defense attorney John Kacavas said the allegations are false and are being made by an individual whose "credibility, veracity and motivation have yet to be tested."

After the hearing, he said that as the discovery process moves forward, his reason for questioning her "credibility will become apparent."

Uchendu Ezeugwu of Manchester, one of five people who attended the brief hearing to show their support for "Father John," said the charges are " absolutely preposterous."

Ezeugwu, who was born in the United States and raised in Nigeria, said he and the others are members of the African Apostolate. Lawani, who is a priest on loan from the Diocese of Ilorin, Nigeria, is chaplain to the group based at St. Joseph Cathedral.

Lawani resides at St. Joseph Cathedral rectory with the Rev. Edward Arseneault, diocesan chancellor, and the Rev. Joseph Cooper, pastor of the cathedral.

"We all are in shock," said Ezeugwu. "Father John has helped the community in many ways. This is an attack on what I believe to be an innocent man."

Moses Wani of Manchester thinks of Father John as his brother. "He only thinks of how to help people," Wani said.

The woman obtained a temporary restraining order against the priest on Sept. 7 after filing a stalking petition in district court.

In it, she said she retained more than 20 messages Lawani left on her answering machine.In one, he allegedly said, "I want you to have a baby for me."

The woman wrote that she couldn't sleep anymore and that she was depressed and fearful of him.

A final hearing on the restraining order has been scheduled for Oct. 5.

Lawani is free on $18,000 bail. He is to return to district court on Oct. 5 for a pretrial hearing.