South African court clear Nigerian pastor of rape and human trafficking charges afta eight years

BBC News

02-04-2025

One South African court don declare one Nigerian televangelist wey bin chop accuse of rape, human trafficking, racketeering, and sexual assault, not guilty.
Eastern Cape High Court judge, Irma Schoeman clear Timothy Omotoso, di senior pastor of di Jesus Dominion International church wey get base for South Africa of all di 32 charges wey Eastern Cape National Prosecuting Authority sama am.
Di judge also clear di two church members, Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sulani wey chop accuse say dem play major role for di charges.
For her ruling on Wednesday di judge say di prosecution no handle di case well-well.
"No thought bin go into di state cross examination of di accused. Di cross examination dey shallow and e lack di intention to uncover di truth." News 24 bin quote di judge.
Schoeman tok say while di pastor explanations no follow, state prosecutors still no fit prove beyond reasonable doubt dia case against him and im two assistants.
Di judgement dey come, eight years afta dem throw di 66-year-old senior pastor plus two co-accused for jail on top accuse of multiple charges, wey include say dem dey lure young women come dia church and sexually abuse dem.
Di trial wey last for eight years na one of di most high-profile sexual abuse cases in recent years, wey dey marred by repeated delay, changes in legal representation, judicial recusals, and several attempts by Omotoso defence team to throw way di case comot from court.
Oga Omotoso, wey dem arrest for 2017, bin fall to im knees and and e appear like say e dey pray afta di judge find am not guilty of all charges, wey include sexual exploitation and human trafficking.
Di church leader, plus di co-accused, Lusanda Solani and Zukiswa Sitho, wey stand bifor di court on Wednesday morning go now walk free afta one long legal battle.
Reports say di state bin present traumatic testimonies from survivors, wey give details on how Pastor Omotoso allegedly use im position to manipulate young women into sexual acts, some as young as 14 years old.
According to Eastern Cape National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional tok-tok pesin, Luxolo Tyali, wey South African News quote, e say;
"E dey alleged say Omotoso, wey pipo dey address as 'di man of God', na di leader of di Jesus Dominion International (JDI) church and di co-accused be im assistants. JDI get major branches in South Africa, Nigeria, and Israel, and dia headquarters dey for Durban.
"Di complainants na either congregants, employees or pipo dem select to take part for di activities of di church wen dem recruit dem under di guise say dem go benefit spiritually or improve di quality of dia lives. Omotoso allegedly directly or indirectly through im co-accused, bin pay and arrange for di complainants to travel to im hotel for, Durban, Israel, or Nigeria," Tyali tok.
Once dem land di destination, Tyali explain say dem go allegedly instruct di complaints to switch off dia phones.
"Di tok-tok pesin allege say dem go hide di complainants plus oda female church members for one room wia dem go also slept. Omotoso go allegedly select one of di complainants to go to im private bedroom wia e go rape or sexually assault dem," e add.
Tori be say plenty pipo plus Omotoso supporters bin full di court wen judge dey read out di ruling.
Di judgement don already sparked outrage from women's rights groups and odas wey argue say justice no dey served.
Di National Prosecuting Authority tok say di judge wey declare Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso and im two co-accused innocent do so on a technicality and na for dat reason, di state go study di judgment and decide which legal avenues to explore.
Eastern Cape social development MEC Bukiwe Fanta express her disappointment for di acquittal. She say di ruling don leave many pipo for di community feeling disheartened and e don raise significant concerns about di challenges faced for di fight against gender-based violence.
Tim Omotoso na di founder of di Tim Omotoso Global Outreach (T.O.G.O) is an Apostolic and Prophetic ministry and lead pastor of di Jesus Dominion International (JDI).
According to di informate on im outreach website, Omotoso describe imsef as a prophet.