Absence of Lagos bishop hinders arraignment in connection with pastor rape accusation

As Bishop Oluwafeyiropo Daniel, the founder of I Reign Christian Ministry, failed to appear in court on Monday, his scheduled arraignment for an alleged rape was postponed.

Judge Ramon Oshodi of the Lagos State Special Offenses Court, Ikeja, heard the case, which was ranked as case number four on the court’s case list.

But, Ms. Inumidun Solarin, the police prosecutor, told the court that the defendant was not present.

She mentioned that the police at the Force Criminal Investigation Department in Alagbon, Ikoyi, had released Daniel on bail.

She alleged that the investigating police officer, ASP Yemi Temenu, stated that it was established that he had moved when the police went to his home in Ikota, Lekki.

She requested a break, stating that the pastor was in Abuja for a church event.

After upon, the case was postponed until April 17, 2023.

The prosecution of Daniel for the alleged rape of his church’s assistant pastor and another woman had been ordered by the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions, according to the article.

At the FCID, where several of the victims had provided testimony, the case against him was looked at.

When the investigation was allegedly finished last year, the case file was sent to the DPP.

The victims claimed that the police and the state government had compromised, therefore the legal advice was withheld for a number of months.

Our correspondent made the decision to request the certified true copy of the legal advice after confirming that the DPP had issued it in December 2022 and that the cleric had not yet been charged.

After paying the required fee on Thursday, March 2, Saturday PUNCH submitted an application for the certified true copy. On Monday, March 13, our correspondent was the only one to receive the advice.

The advice, which was dated December 16, 2022, and was signed by Dr. Babajide Martins, Director of the DPP.

The report read in part, “After careful consideration of the facts available in the duplicate case file, this office is of the view that there exists prima facie offence of rape under Section 260 of the Criminal Law, Ch C17, Vol.3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015 against the suspect, Oluwafeyiropo Daniel.

“Facts from the duplicate case file reveal that the suspect, Oluwafeyiropo Daniel, is a pastor and the founder of I Reign Christian Ministry; that he had a church branch in Akungba Akoko (Ondo) where he had young people as pastors and assistant pastors. It is also revealed that Oluwafeyiropo Daniel invites the branch pastors and assistants to his house from time for one reason or the other.”

According to the allegation, Daniel took advantage of the assistant pastor each time she paid a visit to his home in the Lagos neighborhood of Ikota.

“It is revealed that Oluwafeyiropo Daniel having presented himself as his victims’ spiritual father whom they must be loyal to and must never hide anything from, including their body, lures the complainant and his other victim into having sexual intercourse with him.

“In the light of the foregoing, this office shall prosecute Pages 81- (Oluwafeyiropo Daniel) for the offence of rape under Section 260 of the Criminal Law, Ch C17, Vol.3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015,” the advisory stated.