Court finds Bishop Oluwafeyiropo guilty of raping assistant pastor

Oluwafeyiropo Daniel, also known as Bishop Feyi, the founder of I Reign Christian Ministry, was convicted on Friday for the rape of his assistant pastor. The verdict was delivered at an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, presided over by Justice Rahman Oshodi.

The court had reserved judgment on January 11 after concluding the hearing of the allegations against Bishop Feyi. He faced charges of raping his assistant pastor and one other individual (whose names were withheld), along with attempted rape of another alleged survivor (also unnamed). The incidents were said to have occurred in June 2020 at Ikota Villa Estate, Lekki, Lagos, and were alleged to contravene Sections 260 (2), 262, and 263 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

Despite pleading not guilty to the amended four-count charge, which included accusations of rape, sexual assault, and attempted rape, Bishop Feyi was found guilty.

During the trial, the defense counsel, Mr. Fola Awonusi, argued in a final written address on January 11 for the court to discharge and acquit the defendant. He claimed that documents presented showed malice and financial motives on the part of the alleged survivors, pointing out contradictions in the evidence provided by prosecution witnesses.

However, the state counsel, Mr. Babajide Boye, urged the court to convict Bishop Feyi, emphasizing evidence of a struggle and asserting that the accused forced himself on the alleged survivors. Boye dismissed the defense’s arguments about contradictions, deeming them immaterial.

The court ultimately sided with the state counsel, convicting Bishop Feyi on all four counts of rape, sexual assault, and attempted rape. Further details are expected to be provided later.