Father Omogo
By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor
A priest who led Catholic churches in Montague, Rothbury and Claybanks Township was accused of sexual assault and has been sent back to his home diocese in Nigeria.
“Father Peter Omogo has resigned as administrator of St. James Parish, Montague, Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Rothbury, and St. John the Baptist Mission, Claybanks, effective May 2, 2025,” states the Grand Rapids Diocese website. “Father Omogo has been recalled to his diocese by his bishop.”
Fr. Omogo was under investigation by the Michigan State Attorney General’s Office following allegations made by three women, according to a report released by the office, Dec. 15. However, he has not been criminally charged.
“In June 2025, the Department of Attorney General closed its investigation regarding Fr. Omogo without bringing criminal charges because, in some cases, the alleged victims did not wish to move forward,” states the AG’s report. “In other cases, the applicable statute of limitations had run, and, with regard to (an alleged victim’s) allegations, it was believed that the department would be unable to meet its burden of proving, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Fr. Omogo was guilty of any crime.”
The details about the allegations against Fr. Omogo are included in the 336-page report that “contains detailed descriptions of allegations of sexual abuse or assault and other sexual misconduct — including grooming and misuse of authority — by priests or deacons who are current or former clergy for the Diocese of Grand Rapids that occurred in the diocese from January 1, 1950 to the present,” states the report. There are 51 priests included in the report.
One of Omogo’s alleged victims claims he raped her multiple times over a five-year period in the church rectory — the official residence provided by a church for its parish priest. Other victims claim being sexually assaulted by the church leader in the church’s confessional — where church members privately confess their sins to the priest.
The report states that Fr. Omogo’s date of birth was unknown, but he was born in Nigeria. He was ordained into the priesthood July 10, 2004.
The first woman to come forward, “Jane Doe #58” made a report to Montague Police Chief Robert Rought and alleged that “she received an unwanted kiss on the mouth by her priest, Peter Omogo,” in the confessional at St. James Church in Montague on August 19, 2015.
“Jane Doe #58 advised that some time after the initial unwanted kiss by Father Omogo, he gave her another hug and his right hand touched the right side of her right breast.”
Jane Doe #58 learned that one of her friend — “Jane Doe #55” — also claimed to have been touched inappropriately by the priest. “… it was discovered that Jane Doe #55 was also the victim of unwanted sexual advances by Father Omogo. Jane Doe #58 advised that she has spoken with a couple of other women in the church, and it appears that Father Omogo has made similar acts of unwanted sexual advances towards other women.
“Jane Doe #55 advised that in November of last year, she and her husband were giving him a ride from the White Lake Eagles after working on a giving tree fundraiser. Jane Doe #55 stated that Father Omogo is from Nigeria and has a foundation where he raises money to build clean wells for his people in Nigeria. Jane Doe #55 reported that her relationship with Father Omogo has been challenged because of some of the unexpected and unwanted actions that have occurred by Father Omogo.
“She said when they dropped him off at home, she got out of the car to get in the front seat when he gave her a hug and then kissed her on the lips. Jane Doe #55 advised that another time he was sitting in the back seat during a car ride, and he tapped his crotch with his hand several times in front of her.
“Jane Doe #55 advised that two years ago in December she was helping Father Omogo by addressing Christmas cards and sending them out to other members of the church.” She stated that he “kind of picked her up from the seated position, held onto her face with both hands and kissed her on the lips three times.
“Jane Doe #55 also stated that he touched her breast with his hand and tapped on it twice and said, ‘there-there.’ She also stated that she felt ‘used, taken advantage of and even groomed by Father Omogo.’ As a result of Fr. Omogo’s alleged actions, Jane Doe #55 was seeking professional counseling for the unresolved issues. Both Jane Doe #58 and Jane Doe #55 decided not to pursue charges, but they both separately stopped attending the church due to Father Peter and his actions.
“It did not appear that either chief (from Montague Police Department and Fremont Police Department) was planning to pursue any criminal charges, but that there were now two police officers with similar reports, and if there were any future credible reports about him kissing anyone, the bishop would remove him from St. James and possibly from all ministries in the diocese.”
On Dec. 14, 2024, a victim assistance coordinator from the Grand Rapids Diocese interviewed Jane Doe #56, who alleged that Fr. Omogo had raped her multiple times from 2019 through 2024.
The third victim said that she met and befriended Fr. Omogo about 14 years ago at a different church. “He was moved to a parish in Fremont, but she continued to meet with him as her spiritual advisor. She began working for his Samuel Omogo Foundation (SOM), named after Fr. Peter’s brother. The foundation helps Nigerian people from his hometown to build wells, obtain sewing machines, and motorcycles for transportation. He is also in the process of building schools under the foundation GOA. Jane Doe #56 has worked for the foundation along with her friend for years. They have built over 570 wells, and he has taken in as much as $1.6 million in donations. Fr. Peter is currently the pastor of St. James in Montague. She stated, ‘He got moved from Fremont after about 1.5 years.’ Something happened, but it was not made public and they sent him to St. James in Montague.
“‘The first time he brushed up against my breasts, I thought it was an accident. But then it kept happening. He was grooming me, and he found my weak spot wanting to work for the foundation. He wanted to have sex before funeral Masses. I would tell him no — he was saying Mass, and he would say he didn’t care. Fr. Peter loved to celebrate himself. He has a lot of power. In Nigeria, he has a throne. A real throne. I’m worried for the young girls in the academy he’s building in Nigeria that he will rape them like he raped me. I cannot call him Father. Peter has been raping me since 2019. He has to be stopped.
“The diocese forwarded the report to the department for further investigation. While the investigation was ongoing, the diocese restricted Fr. Omogo from any public ministry.”
Jane Doe #56 described being raped repeatedly by the priest in the priest’s residence. “When Father Peter was done with her, they both got dressed and he told her ‘God bless you, have a safe drive.’ Jane Doe #56 stated that she tried to get out of having intercourse with him. She stated she told him no, and that she had to go, but he would only keep saying ‘let me take care of you.’ Jane Doe #56 stated he also told her ‘you started this,’ trying to make himself look like the victim. Jane Doe #56 stated at this point at the end of 2020, Father Peter was trying to assault her in some way every time she was there.” She estimated that she was assaulted 27 times.
In addition to the alleged rapes that took place in the St. James Parish rectory, Jane Doe #56 alleged that at the end of 2020, Fr. Omogo raped her in her hotel room in Chicago. She said that a group of people went to Chicago to celebrate Father Omogo’s doctorate graduation there.
“… Jane Doe #56 said that she no longer did volunteer work for Fr. Omogo and that she was coming forward with her allegations at that time because she believed she would then be believed because she recently ‘discovered that there are other victims of Father Peter’s abuse.’
“On Dec. 20, 2024, Officer Wood contacted Fr. Omogo at the St. James Parish rectory and asked Fr. Omogo ‘if he would be willing to come to the police department and speak with me about some allegations that have been brought against him.’ Fr. Omogo stated that, on the advice of his legal counsel, he was not going ‘to give any statements to the police at this time.’’ When Officer Wood returned to the department, ‘there was a message to contact Father Peter’s attorney.’ Officer Wood returned the attorney’s call and advised of the criminal sexual conduct investigation, and the attorney advised that ‘he and his client may be willing to sit down for an interview after Father Peter gets back from Nigeria.’ The diocese had notified the department of Fr. Omogo’s plan to travel to Nigeria before he left the country. On December 30, 2024, Fr. Omogo’s attorney called Officer Wood and advised that he and Fr. Omogo were ‘not going to do a sit down interview with officer Wood, but did state that Father Peter denies raping Jane Doe #56 and has submitted to and passed a private polygraph that Fr. Omogo’s attorney had set up.’
The polygraph specialist stated that ’based on the examination given that this subject is truthful to the above issue.’
“On Dec. 24, 2024, a witness reported that ‘Fr. Peter commented on his wife’s appearance, brushed hips and grabbed them, made remarks about how good she looked’ in October of 2023. He also alleged that ‘Fr. Peter would rub her leg and other unwanted physical touch during confession.’”
“Accountability does not end with criminal prosecution,” said Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. “Accountability includes transparency, acknowledgement and a commitment to believing in and supporting victims. No matter how much time has passed, survivors deserve to be heard, and by releasing these reports, we hope to honor the courage of victims and ensure their experiences are no longer hidden.
“This report is only possible through the victims who came forward and the dedicated work of the Michigan State Police and members of my office as part of the Clergy Abuse Investigation,” Nessel said. “I am incredibly grateful for their commitment on these difficult cases.”
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