Latest news with #TimOmotoso
BBC News
19-05-2025
- BBC News
Timeline of di wahala of Nigerian pastor wey dem deport from South Africa
Televangelist pastor Timothy Omotoso don come back to Nigeria afta dem deport am from South Africa wia di kontri Interior Ministry bin declare am undesirable pesin. Omotoso bin don spend eight days for prison for South Africa awaiting trial, sake of accuse of human trafficking, rape, and racketeering wey dem sama am. According to SABC news, Omotoso suppose land for di Lagos Internationa Airport by 8.30pm of Sunday, May 18, 2025. Di pastor na di founder of Tim Omotoso Global Outreach (TOGO), and for dia website dem say dem be "apostolic and prophetic ministry" wey dey "propagate di gospel of Jesus Christ to dis generation wit signs following". Omotoso na also di senior pastor of Jesus Dominion International (JDI) wey get three branches across South Africa. However, since 2017, di charismatic pastor don dey accused of plenty offences, including grooming and raping im church pipo, some wey dey as young as 14. Here na a timeline of Omotoso plenty wahala: April 20, 2017: South Africa Police - di Hawks - arrest Omotoso for di Port Elizabeth airport afta im flight touch down, on top accuse say e bin dey sexually molest young girls. Robert Netshiunda, di tok-tok pesin of di police bin tell SABC News say dem find am for di women toilet for di arrival section wia e bin hide. Di accuse inluce say Omotoso bin traffick more dan 30 girls and women from di three branches of im churchl, to one house for Umhlanga community in KwaZulu-Natal, wia im allegedly dey abuse dem sexually. May 2017: Court remand Omotoso for prison pending wen im trial go start. October 2018: Di trial of Omotoso and two oda pesin - Lusanda Solani and Zukiswa Sitho - start for di high court for Port Elizabeth. October 21, 2018: 22-year-old Cheryl Zondi bear witness for court and tok how Omotoso start to dey sexually abuse her from wen she dey 14. She narrate how di pastor bin force her to perform sex acts on him, and afta dat e go recite Psalm 51 wey start wit "Have mercy on me O God". Zanda also tell di court say she bin dey get death threats as she agree to testify against di pastor. One strange caller tell am say: "You dey go against a man of God and God go kill you". October 22, 2018: Omotoso lawyer, Peter Daubermann, accuse di trial judge, Justice Mandela Makaula of bias and say make e comot hand for di trial. February 6, 2019: Judge Mandela Makula finally gree to wash im hand comot for Omotoso matter. April 2 2025: Court find Omotoso not guilty and discharge im and di two oda accused pesins. Di Judge say di prosecutors bin mishandle di case. Plenty pipo for South Africa bin vex wit di judgement and some bin express dia anger on top social media. May 4, 2025: Just a month afta e regain im freedom, Omotoso and im church organise ogbonge crusade wey dem call "New Dawn", but di Mayor of Buffalo City, Princess Faku, later ban di church from using any public facility for dia event. Major event centres wia di church bin wan use also cancel dia booking. However, di seven-day crusade still go ahead, but security pipo arrest di Pastor on di sixth day. May 10, 2025: Di Home Affairs Department for South Africa arrest Omotoso again as dem bin don declare am prohibited pesin. Dem say di pastor go appear in court on Monday, 12 May 2025, on top accuse say e contravene di Immigration Act. May 18, 2025: South Africa authorities deport Pastor Timothy Omotoso to Nigeria afta dem declare am 'undesirable pesin' and ban am from entering di kontri again for five years. Who be Timothy Omotoso Dem born oga Omotoso on 14 July, 1958 Bifor e start im ministry, e bin dey play music with popular Nigerian high life musician Ebenezer Obey. E claim say God teach am how to play piano, guitar, drums and oda musical instruments wen e dey only 10 years, according to di website of Tim Omotoso Global Outreach (TOGO). Im church, Jesus Dominion International get branches for di UK, France and across South Africa, and in 2013, e launch one 24-hour Satellite TV station wey im name na Ancient of Days Broadcasting Network (ADBN). Omotoso dey married wit three children.
The Citizen
15-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
When will we admit the justice system is failing us
Our justice system is neither punitive nor rehabilitative enough. It's time to confront the cracks before more lives are shattered. At what point do we start being honest with ourselves, admitting that our justice system may not be punitive; not as rehabilitating as we need it to be. When do we start questioning the level of effectiveness of the prison system, the measurements of rehabilitation and the issues considered in granting parole? As of late, the failures of the justice system are seemingly rearing their ugly heads for all to see. There are rapists who run the streets as if their actions have not affected their victims; murderers who served the bare minimum jail time and, now, their lives continue. Nigerian televangelist Tim Omotoso and Anabela Rungo, the mother of former Miss SA finalist Chidimma Adetshina, are some of the names that appear on court rolls. They leave us questioning the effectiveness of the justice system. ALSO READ: Buying justice: Kubayi appalled by the state of Palm Ridge court To rectify this problem, we should be willing to reflect the mirror back to every member of society. The first mistake we made was to accept these barbaric behaviours because we have not been vocal enough in our collective pursuit for justice. As a society, we should not be willing to accept the unacceptable. We should cease to excuse the inexcusable. Once we can do that, we can remedy the situation that gains traction from our silence. Ultimately, society is the collateral damage of a country whose laws are lax and slow. The granting of parole to undeserving detainees has spiked the number of reoffenders. People have played the system and, as a result, they are meant to assimilate back into society. I figure that most of the parolees ate on time, woke up on time, said thank you and please to the correctional officers. They attended church services and did the odd job around the prisons. ALSO READ: Will Shepherd Bushiri escape again? Here's what the justice minister says They basically carried their own weight and then someone concluded they are fit to be reintegrated into a society, which they may bleed to death with their bare hands. This means the justice system requires an overhaul. If judges, parole officers and social workers do not call into question their decisions, and if this does not make them wonder about the real intent of the people they release from prison, then nothing will ever. We have more going out, possibly to come out unrehabilitated. Perhaps we need to really question the purpose of their incarceration and the requirements for their attainment of freedom. We hope the National Prosecuting Authority always does better to serve justice and not only in the high-profile cases. NOW READ: Trump would have been convicted if he wasn't elected: special counsel report
The Citizen
08-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Churches reject Omotoso's Buffalo City crusade plans
The municipality was forced to cancel Omotoso's booking at the Orient Theatre in East London. Religious and traditional leaders in Buffalo City Metro municipality have rejected Nigerian televangelist, Tim Omotoso, who is planning a crusade in the city following his acquittal in a trial. Omotoso booked the Orient Theatre in East London to conduct his seven-day crusade from last Sunday, but the municipality cancelled the booking of the hall due to apparent pressure from the local religious community. Lawyers demand explanation This prompted Omotoso's lawyers to write to mayor Princess Faku to demand an explanation for the cancellation, which they said constituted a breach of contract. The lawyers said this was an infringement on his freedom of speech and stated Omotoso was acquitted of all the charges. Having avoided jail, Omotoso is back behind the pulpit to preach the gospel. The Durban-based senior pastor of Jesus Dominion International has returned to reopen his church. He plans to visit East London, where his loyalists were said to be waiting for his arrival to begin the crusade. Omotoso acquitted He was arrested by the Hawks in 2017 along with two other fellow accused and charged with rape, sexual assault and human trafficking. ALSO READ: 'The system has failed us': Omotoso victims speak out following acquittal But Omotoso and his two co-accused were acquitted of all the charges on 2 April by the Eastern Cape High Court in Gqeberha. The court found that the prosecuting team failed to present a solid case beyond a reasonable doubt. The National Prosecuting Authority was criticised for the poor handling of the case. The trial had been embroiled in controversy, particularly after a key witness was gunned down during the trial. The woman was shot day at close range in what some linked to the evidence she gave in court, but no arrest has yet been made. Trauma concerns Religious leaders in the city invited Omotoso to a meeting to discuss the crusade and voice their concerns about it. The church leaders said they were aware of legal matters surrounding Omotoso's case and what they called his 'technical acquittal', current investigations into his acquittal, possible reinstatement of the charges against him and his co-accused, and the pastor's likely deportation to Nigeria. 'We are concerned about the trauma and hurt caused to over 60 young adults who were allegedly abused, sexually assaulted, and humiliated. Their need for support and counselling is a priority,' the church leaders said. Omotoso could not be reached for comment. NOW READ: 'Stunned' NPA probing failures in Omotoso rape case as Batohi promises appeal decision soon
