S’Africa-based Nigerian pastor acquitted of rape after eight years

The Nigerian televangelist, Pastor Timothy Omotoso, has been released and cleared of the rape and human trafficking allegations that have persisted since 2017.

A 66-year-old senior pastor from Jesus Dominion International Church in South Africa has been charged with allegedly raping and trafficking young women, which includes members of the Gospel group Grace Galaxy as well as school-going minors.

As reported by The South African, a publication based in South Africa, Pastor Omotoso was cleared of all accusations by the Gqeberha High Court.

The televangelist had been in custody since his initial arrest in 2017 on multiple charges, including sexual assault and human trafficking.

On Wednesday, though, the court acquitted him, resulting in his liberation.

The report stated, "Omotoso along with his two fellow accused, Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho, went back to the dock as Judge Irma Schoeman announced the verdict."

He was acquitted of rape and human trafficking by Judge Schoeman. Omotoso faced 63 charges along with his co-defendants, however, the court deemed the evidence submitted against them inadequate.

The co-defendants, Sulani and Sitho, were accused of playing a significant part in bringing young women into the church, where they were allegedly victims of sexual abuse committed by Omotoso.

However, on Wednesday, the court ruled, “The accused are found not guilty and are discharged on all charges.”

The three accused had maintained their innocence throughout the trial, and after eight years in prison, Omotoso is now a free man.

Omotoso was first arrested in 2017 on multiple charges, including sexual assault, human trafficking, and racketeering.

The trial faced numerous delays over the years due to factors such as changes in legal representation and judicial recusals.

At one point, his lawyers sought to have the case dismissed.

Delivering her verdict on Wednesday, Judge Schoeman stated that the State did not succeed in proving the accusations against Omotoso beyond a reasonable doubt.

She also expressed displeasure with the subpar quality of the cross-examination of the accused, which led to all three being acquitted.

"After absorbing the verdict, two defendants, with Omotoso at the forefront, dropped to their knees inside the courthouse to pray," the report stated partially.

Omotoso’s exoneration occurs as South Africa continues to grapple with alarming levels of sexual violence, where police records show 42,500 reported rape cases from 2023 to 2024.

The congregation in Port Elizabeth, a coastal city, had their place of worship closed down when irate groups encircled the structure.

Unverified information indicated that prior to the trial, some of the women who testified against the pastor had received death threats from unidentified sources.

Omotoso’s congregation was regarded as one of the numerous expanding evangelical churches in South Africa, famed for offering miracles and prophesies.

In a 2018 BBC report, the church garnered notice due to its videos showcasing uniformly dressed young women who were vocalists. Notably, several of these participants had previously competed on the South African TV show Idols.

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