Crime

Lagos pastor Feyi Daniels bags life imprisonment for raping church member

Published

11 months ago

January 26, 2024

Oluwafeyiropo Daniel, aka Bishop Feyi, the founder of I Reign Christian Ministry has been sentenced to life imprisonment for “raping a church member”.

He was convicted on Friday, January 26, 2024, in a ruling by the trial judge, Rahman Oshodi of an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence court.

The court found the Lagos-based cleric guilty of rape and sexual assault of a female worshipper.

The Court had reserved judgment on January 11 after the conclusion of the hearing of the allegations against the Bishop.

Bishop Feyi was charged with raping his assistant pastor and one other (names withheld) and attempted rape of one other alleged survivor (name withheld).

He allegedly committed the offence sometime in June 2020, at Ikota Villa Estate, Lekki, Lagos.

According to the prosecution, the alleged offences contravene Sections 260 (2), 262 and 263 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

But he pleaded not guilty to the amended four-count charge bordering on rape, sexual assault and attempted rape.

The defence counsel, Mr Fola Awonusi, in his final written address on January 11 urged the court to discharge and acquit the defendant.

The lawyer said documents presented before the court showed malice and financial gains on the part of the alleged survivors.

According to him, there are contradictions in the evidences given by the prosecution witnesses.

He urged the court to discount the evidence of the prosecution witness and acquit the defendant.

But the state counsel, Mr Babajide Boye, however, urged the court to convict Bishop Feyi accordingly.

Boye, in his final written address, argued that there was evidence of a struggle, adding that the Bishop Feyi forced himself on the alleged survivors.

He said the contradictions, which the defence argued about were immaterial.

Boye said: “In line with our argument, we urge the court to convict the defendant of the four-count charge. We have established sexual assault and attempted rape. We urge the court to convict the defendant accordingly.”