A church preacher is being held in
Ghana on suspicion of murdering his pregnant British wife in a hotel room. The
body of Charmain Adusah, 41, was discovered by hotel staff face down in a bath
where it is believed she had been lying for four days.
Her husband, Eric Isaiah Adusah, a
self-proclaimed prophet and evangelical preacher, was alleged to have left the
hotel hurriedly on the day she is believed to have died.
self-proclaimed prophet and evangelical preacher, was alleged to have left the
hotel hurriedly on the day she is believed to have died.
He told hotel managers at the time
that his three-month pregnant wife was ill and did not want to be disturbed.
that his three-month pregnant wife was ill and did not want to be disturbed.
A close family friend claimed last
night that Mr Adusah, 28, flew back to London but later returned to Ghana after
his wife’s body was found by concerned hotel staff who used a spare key to
check on her after she failed to answer the door.
Mr Adusah, originally from Ghana,
is being held in police custody in the African country on suspicion of
murdering the former NHS radiography assistant, whom he married suddenly last
September – following a whirlwind romance – in a wedding which shocked her
family and friends, Dailymail reports.
is being held in police custody in the African country on suspicion of
murdering the former NHS radiography assistant, whom he married suddenly last
September – following a whirlwind romance – in a wedding which shocked her
family and friends, Dailymail reports.
His wife, whose maiden name was
Speirs, already had an eight-year-old son from a previous relationship in
Wales. But the boy has not yet been told
the awful news.
Speirs, already had an eight-year-old son from a previous relationship in
Wales. But the boy has not yet been told
the awful news.
Mr Adusah is the leader of Global
Light Revival Ministries church based in Tottenham, north London and has been
active as a preacher in Britain since 2010.
Light Revival Ministries church based in Tottenham, north London and has been
active as a preacher in Britain since 2010.
He has led sermons he describes as
‘divine visitation’ events across the UK and Ireland, receiving £1million in
charitable donations in five years and giving sermons on religious satellite
television channels.
‘divine visitation’ events across the UK and Ireland, receiving £1million in
charitable donations in five years and giving sermons on religious satellite
television channels.
A close family friend last night
accused Mr Adusah of being a ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’, telling Dailymail: ‘We
think he brainwashed her.’
accused Mr Adusah of being a ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’, telling Dailymail: ‘We
think he brainwashed her.’
Mrs Adusah – who was considered
the ‘First Lady’ of her husband’s ministry – grew up in Arbroath in Scotland,
and studied a degree in photojournalism at Swansea University.
the ‘First Lady’ of her husband’s ministry – grew up in Arbroath in Scotland,
and studied a degree in photojournalism at Swansea University.
She was described as a ‘free
spirit’ who started following Mr Adusah’s church around two years ago. They
started a relationship early last year and married in September in London.
spirit’ who started following Mr Adusah’s church around two years ago. They
started a relationship early last year and married in September in London.
The couple had travelled to Ghana
early this month so Mr Adusah could preach at a three-day religious conference
hosted by controversial evangelist ‘Bishop’ John Yaw Adu, who has been exposed
for chaining up mentally ill patients at ‘prayer camps’ for days on end so he
could ‘heal’ them through prayer.
early this month so Mr Adusah could preach at a three-day religious conference
hosted by controversial evangelist ‘Bishop’ John Yaw Adu, who has been exposed
for chaining up mentally ill patients at ‘prayer camps’ for days on end so he
could ‘heal’ them through prayer.
Local reports claim Mr Adusah and
his wife had argued at the start of the trip and he had booked himself into a
budget motel alone, leaving her to stay with Bishop Yaw Adu.
his wife had argued at the start of the trip and he had booked himself into a
budget motel alone, leaving her to stay with Bishop Yaw Adu.
After the conference ended, the
couple apparently reconciled and checked into the Mac-Dic Royal Plaza Hotel in
Koforidua, where they booked in for five days on March 16. The upmarket hotel
has security gates and tropical gardens.
couple apparently reconciled and checked into the Mac-Dic Royal Plaza Hotel in
Koforidua, where they booked in for five days on March 16. The upmarket hotel
has security gates and tropical gardens.
The couple were said to have
argued over the length of their stay, according to the reports, with Mrs Adusah
apparently wanting to stay in Ghana for a month but her husband saying it was
far too long.
argued over the length of their stay, according to the reports, with Mrs Adusah
apparently wanting to stay in Ghana for a month but her husband saying it was
far too long.
Mr Adusah is said to have left the
hotel at dawn the next day and warned reception that his wife did not want to
be disturbed.
hotel at dawn the next day and warned reception that his wife did not want to
be disturbed.
But hotel managers became
concerned when she still had not left the room and would not respond to knocks
on the door. On March 20 hotel porters used a spare key to gain access to the
room.
concerned when she still had not left the room and would not respond to knocks
on the door. On March 20 hotel porters used a spare key to gain access to the
room.
A spokesman for Criminal
Investigation Department (CID) at the police headquarters in Koforidua said Mrs
Adusah was ‘found dead in the bath lying prostrate with a white towel wrapped
around her, almost in a decomposed state’.
Investigation Department (CID) at the police headquarters in Koforidua said Mrs
Adusah was ‘found dead in the bath lying prostrate with a white towel wrapped
around her, almost in a decomposed state’.
Her close friend Christine
Stephen, 42, of Camberley, Surrey, who has known Mrs Adusah since childhood,
told The Mail on Sunday that the family did not hear about her death until
March 21.
Stephen, 42, of Camberley, Surrey, who has known Mrs Adusah since childhood,
told The Mail on Sunday that the family did not hear about her death until
March 21.
She said: ‘I spoke to Charmain’s
family and they said Eric had been in touch on that Saturday to say she had
died. He said he was flying back to Ghana to identify her body on Sunday.
family and they said Eric had been in touch on that Saturday to say she had
died. He said he was flying back to Ghana to identify her body on Sunday.
He also told them he had returned
to England because he had a three-day church event he had to attend here.
to England because he had a three-day church event he had to attend here.
But he was vague about the details
of what happened, saying she had wanted to remain out there to help
underprivileged children.
of what happened, saying she had wanted to remain out there to help
underprivileged children.
A Foreign Office spokesman said:
‘We confirm the death of a British national in Ghana. Mr Adusah has not
requested consular assistance.’
‘We confirm the death of a British national in Ghana. Mr Adusah has not
requested consular assistance.’
A representative of Mr Adusah’s
church also said this to Dailymail: ‘There is no story. She died of natural
causes.’
church also said this to Dailymail: ‘There is no story. She died of natural
causes.’
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