A popular Bishop in Lagos Nigeria will not only spend the rest of his life in prison but have his name registered in the Sexual Offenders Register maintained by the state government.
Hon. Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos High Court on Friday sentenced Bishop Oluwafeyiropo Daniels to life imprisonment for raping a 23-year-old female member of his church, and 3 years imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 19-year-old member of the church (count three of the four-count charge).
The sentences will run concurrently. Rape contravenes Section 260(2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Describing Daniels as a liar who does not have any regard for truth, the judge however, discharged and acquitted him on count two of the charge, which is the rape of another member of the church (name withheld).
Justice Oshodi held that there was an element of consent between the said church member and the Bishop.
On May 29, 2023, the 23-year-old female assistant pastor told the court that the man popularly known as Feyi Daniel, raped her twice.
Feyi Daniel, the founder of iReign Christian Ministry, was first remanded in prison custody on April 17, 2023, for allegedly raping two of his church members.
He was later arraigned on three amended counts bordering on rape and sexual assault, to which he pleaded not guilty.
Led in evidence by Lagos State counsel, Mr Babajide Boye, the victim told the court that she was an assistant pastor of 1 Reign Christian Ministry founded by the bishop.
The victim told the court that she heard her cousin listening to the bishops Feyi Daniels sermon on the phone while they were at her sister’s shop in Osogbo on January 2, 2019.
“I told my cousin the sermon was nice and he told me the name of the church which I searched for and followed its page on Facebook,” the victim said.
“After that, I was able to chat with Feyi on Facebook and he added me to a WhatsApp group called spiritual sonship group.
She further told the court that the bishop, who she regarded as her spiritual father, raped her at his residence in Ikota Villa Estate, Lekki, Lagos State, on June 21, 2020.
In his defence last year, the convict said three of the four women accusing him of sexually assaulting them conspired to turn against him adding that one of those ladies lied because he did not help her out with some financial issues.
The pastor was accused of sexually assaulting three of his church members at his residence in Lekki and on his church premises in Ikeja.
