Lagos bishop gets life imprisonment for raping church member

An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court has sentenced a Lagos cleric, Oluwafeyiropo Daniels, to life imprisonment for raping a church member.

Justice Rahman Oshodi found Daniels, the Bishop of I Reign Christian Ministry, guilty on Friday.

Oshodi held that prosecution established the ingredients of the offence.

According to him, Daniels is a liar and does not have any regard for truth.

The judge, however, discharged and acquitted him on the count two of the charge, which is rape of another member of the church (name withheld).

Oshodi held that there was an element of consent from the church member.

Daniels faced an amended four-count charge bordering on rape, attempted rape and sexual assault.

The trial judge, Rahman Oshodi, on Friday, found the cleric culpable of rape and sexual assault of a female worshipper.

The suspect in his defence last year had testified that he believes three out of the four women accusing him of sexually assaulting them conspired to turn against him.

Daniels said that one of those women lied against him because he did not help her sort out some financial issues.

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.