Popular Nigerian Pastor Acquitted Of R@pe

After spending eight years behind bars, Nigerian televangelist Tim Omotoso has been acquitted of all 32 charges against him by a South African court, bringing an end to a high-profile legal battle that began in 2017.

The ruling, delivered on Wednesday by Judge Irma Schoeman of the Eastern Cape High Court, dismissed allegations of rape, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking against Omotoso, the 66-year-old leader of Jesus Dominion International (JDI) church.

Following the verdict, Omotoso fell to his knees and appeared to pray, visibly emotional as the case that kept him incarcerated for nearly a decade came to a close. His two co-accused, who served as his assistants, were also acquitted.

“The accused are found not guilty and are discharged on all charges,” Judge Schoeman declared, emphasizing that while some of Omotoso’s explanations seemed improbable, the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

Omotoso was first arrested in 2017, with multiple women testifying that he had handpicked them from his church for alleged sexual encounters, after which he would reportedly pray for forgiveness. Some of the accusers were members of a gospel girl group he created, Grace Galaxy, while others were still in school at the time of the alleged incidents.

As news of the acquittal spread, dozens of protesters gathered outside the courthouse in Gqeberha, demanding justice in a country grappling with alarmingly high rates of sexual violence.

The ruling also comes amid national outrage over gender-based violence in South Africa. Just a day earlier, thousands took to the streets in several cities, protesting the handling of a separate case involving a seven-year-old girl allegedly raped at her school last year. Despite widespread public condemnation, no arrests have been made in that case.

South African police statistics indicate that 42,500 rape cases were reported in the country during the 2023-24 financial year, underscoring the gravity of the issue as Omotoso’s acquittal reignites discussions on justice and accountability.
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