An Ikeja sexual offences and domestic violence court has sentenced Feyi Daniels, founder of I Reign Christian Ministry, to life imprisonment for raping a church member.
Rahman Oshodi, the trial judge, on Friday, found the cleric guilty of rape and sexual assault of a female worshipper.
Daniels was arraigned by the Lagos state government over rape, attempted rape and sexual assault of his church members.
The cleric faced trial on an amended four-count charge bordering on rape, sexual assault and attempted rape.
The pastor was accused of sexually assaulting three of his church members at his residence in Lekki and on his church premises in Ikeja.
In May 2023, the cleric was remanded in court for allegedly raping a 25-year-old woman at his Lekki residence.
The church member had told the court that the cleric had sex with her during a prayer session, while speaking in tongues.
THE JUDGMENT
In his judgment, Oshodi ruled that the prosecution team was able to prove the first count charge of rape against the pastor.
The judge agreed with the testimony and evidence presented by the first survivor, a former assistant pastor of the church, who said Daniels raped her in his Lekki residence in 2020.
The first survivor (name withheld) told the court that she had vaginal infection after the rape incident and the cleric asked her to take some medications.
Screenshots of WhatsApp chats, wherein the first survivor informed the cleric that she had injuries in her vagina and the cleric asked her to take medications, were cited by the trial judge in his verdict.
On the second count charge of rape, the judge dismissed the count because the prosecutor failed to prove the alleged offence committed.
The second survivor, who came to Lagos from Osogbo for a church programme, told the court that the cleric raped her in his residence during a “deliverance” session.
On the third count charge of attempted rape, the judge ruled that the elements of attempted rape were not proven by the prosecutor, as there was no attempt to penetrate the survivor.
The third survivor, who resided in the church premises in 2021, told the court that the cleric pressed and sucked her two breasts.
On the fourth count charge of sexual assault, the judge found the cleric guilty of pressing and sucking the breasts of the third survivor in his Ikeja church.
The trial judge held that the testimony of the cleric was inconsistent and that he is a liar.
“Your offences are grievous. You sexually assaulted two women, who were members of your church. You raped her ferociously,” the judge said.
“You committed these crimes using your dominant character as a pastor.”
The judge sentenced Daniels to life imprisonment on the first count of rape, and three years in prison on the third count of sexual assault.
The judge ruled that the cleric is not guilty of the second count of rape and fourth count of attempted rape.
The judge said the name of the cleric should be added to the Lagos state sex offenders register.
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