Crime
Court Sentences Clergyman, ‘Oluwafeyiropo’ To Life Imprisonment For Raping Church Member
The court also held that the prosecution had successfully proven all the ingredients of rape
Ikeja, Lagos State– The Lagos State Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court in Ikeja has sentenced a clergyman, Bishop Oluwafeyiropo Daniels, to life in prison for the offence of raping a pastor in his church, “I Reign Christian Ministry” in June 2020.
Delivering judgment the verdict on January 26, the presiding judge, Justice Rahman Oshodi, expressed confidence in the testimony provided by the complainant and other witnesses.
He noted that their direct evidence remained uncontradicted throughout the trial, despite the defendant’s denials.
The court also held that the prosecution had successfully proven all the ingredients of rape under section 260(2) of the criminal laws of Lagos state, 2015.
Justice Oshodi, however, discharged the clergyman of the second count of allegedly raping another church member at his home in 2020.
The court said the prosecution failed to prove the elements of the use of force, fear of harm by the complainant and misrepresentation by the defendant to establish guilt in the offence of rape beyond all reasonable doubt.
The court ordered that the convict’s name be Registered in the Lagos state sex offenders register.
The court also ordered that the cleric serve his jail term at the Nigeria correctional center, at the kirikiri maximum facility where he is currently being detained.
In the words of the judge, the cleric used his dominant character and position to Sexual violate two members of his church.
“Rape carries a mandatory life imprisonment and sexual assault carries a jail term of three years, which can’t alleviate the harm on your victims.