Thelma Osatohanmwen
Justice Rahman Oshodi of an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court has sentenced the Bishop of I Reign Christian Ministry, Lagos, Oluwafeyiropo Daniels, to life imprisonment for the rape of his 23-year-old assistant, whose identity remains withheld.
Additionally, the cleric received a three-year prison term for sexually assaulting a 19-year-old church member.
The judge, on Friday, condemning Daniels as a liar devoid of truth, ruled that he should spend the rest of his life at the Kirikiri custodial facility in Lagos.
NEWSTODAYNG gathered that the court acquitted the bishop on one count of rape, citing an element of consent from the church member, and also cleared him of attempted rape charges involving another church member.
The case unfolded as the assistant pastor revealed the harrowing details of the alleged rape, which occurred during a prayer session at the cleric’s residence in Lekki, Lagos.
The survivor disclosed that Daniels, after claiming divine instruction, coerced her into sexual acts with the promise of freeing her from a supposed curse placed on her by her aunt.
In her words, “Feyi told me that when I was born, my aunt did something to me which prevented my progress in life.
“He said the instruction he received was for him to help me so that I could be free from my aunt.
“I asked what the instructions were and he said the instruction was for him to have sex with me.
“I was confused at this point. His eyes had already changed and he told me to go to his room,” she stated.
She told the court that when she got there, the two portraits of Prophet Babajide were on the bed, saying: “He (defendant) was playing a Christian song with the title, ‘Let Praises Rise’ on his phone.
“He pushed me on the bed, I tried to move away but he pulled me back as I was already naked.
“While Feyi was speaking in tongue, he was having sex with me.”
The survivor recounted how, in the midst of religious chants and Christian music, the bishop forcibly engaged in sexual intercourse with her. Fearful and manipulated, she remained silent about the assaults until the court proceedings.