Popular Bishop In Hot waters; Remanded for Raping Two Church Members -PHOTOS
Bishop Daniel Oluwafeyiropo was remanded on Monday, April 17, by an Ikeja Sexual Offenses and Domestic Violence Court after allegations that he raped two churchgoers.
The founder of “I Reign Christian Ministry,” Oluwafeyiropo, was remanded in custody at Kirikiri Correctional Facility pending the completion of his bail requirements.
The suspect had already been charged with two counts of rape-related offenses.
The crime violates section 260 (2) of Lagos State’s 2015 penal code.
According to reports, the suspect broke the law in June 2020 at the Ikota Villa Estate in Lekki, Lagos.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the trial’s presiding judge, Ramon Oshodi, admitted the defendant to N20 million bail with two sureties in the same amount.
The suspect was told to present his foreign passport, and the case was postponed until May 9, 2023.
According to him, one of the sureties must be the owner of a building in Lagos State, and the value of the building must be sufficient to cover the bail amount.
“The original document of the landed property must be submitted to the chief registrar of Lagos State,” the judge said.
“The sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and must have three years’ tax payment to the Lagos State.
The defense attorney, Olukunle Oyewole, had already appealed for the suspect’s generous bail conditions.
“My lord, the defendant was not informed on the day the matter came up for the first time before this court,” Oyewole said.
“The defendant is a well-known religious leader and he has shown by his action that he will not jump bail. The offence for which he is charged with is a bailable offence and he has credible sureties that can stand for him,”
Babjide Boye, lead prosecution counsel, had urged the court to reject the bail application, adding that the offence committed is serious.
“There is also a possibility of the defendant interfering with the prosecution witnesses,” Boye said.
“He is a bishop of so many branches and if granted bail, he may use his position to influence the prosecution witnesses as he is regarded as a man of authority who has the possibility of committing the same crime.
“We urge the court to deny the defendant bail because he has failed to provide the court exceptional circumstances to grant him bail.
The suspect pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Meanwhile, in a video posted on his official Facebook page on Monday morning, the clergyman spoke spoke on his travails, saying that all the attacks against him are politically motivated and discredit his voice as a prophet.
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