South Africa Rearrests Nigerian Pastor Timothy Omotoso After Rape Acquittal

A Nigerian pastor, Timothy Omotoso, who was recently cleared of multiple rape charges, has been rearrested in South Africa over alleged immigration violations, according to police.

Timothy Omotoso had been behind bars for nine years while standing trial over accusations of raping and sexually abusing several young women from his church.

He was released last month after a judge ruled that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt, despite noting that the pastor’s defense didn’t seem entirely believable.

His acquittal sparked widespread outrage across South Africa, with many criticizing how the case was handled.

On Saturday morning, police and immigration officials arrested Omotoso in East London shortly after a church service.

Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola confirmed the arrest and said the pastor would be charged with breaching the Immigration Act and would appear in court on Monday.

“He will be facing charges related to violations of the Immigration Act, and he will appear in court on Monday,” he said.

Omotoso, who leads the Jesus Dominion International (JDI) church, was first arrested in 2017 and faced over 30 charges, including rape, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking.

Several women, some still in school at the time, told the court that he selected them personally and would pray for forgiveness after sexually abusing them.

In April, Judge Irma Schoeman of the Eastern Cape High Court criticized the state for mishandling the case, resulting in the acquittal of Timothy Omotoso and his two co-accused.

KanyiDaily recalls that Nigerian disc jockey Nonso Ajufo, better known as DJ Big N, recently recounted a harrowing robbery experience in South Africa, where he was shot in the leg by armed robbers.