A Nigerian televangelist, Timothy Omotoso, who spent eight years in prison facing allegations of raping young women from his South African church, has been acquitted of all charges.
Throughout the highly publicized trial, which was streamed live and captured significant national attention, Omotoso maintained his innocence against 32 charges.
In 2018, a witness testified that she was raped by the pastor, who led a church in Port Elizabeth, when she was just 14 years old.
On Wednesday, the presiding judge announced the not guilty verdict, citing prosecutorial mismanagement as the reason for the decision.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) of South Africa echoed this sentiment, stating that “previous prosecutors in the case acted inappropriately and the accused were not adequately cross-examined by the state.”
The NPA indicated that it would explore its legal options moving forward, noting that the prolonged trial was partly due to Omotoso’s multiple legal challenges.
In response to the verdict, Omotoso expressed gratitude to God and noted that his co-defendants, Lusanda Sulani and Zikiswa Sitho, were also acquitted.
Omotoso was infamously arrested at an airport in 2017 while attempting to leave the country.
This trial marked a significant moment as it was the first high-profile rape case to be broadcast live in a nation grappling with widespread sexual violence.
The proceedings sparked considerable public interest and raised challenging issues regarding victims’ rights, judicial impartiality, and the role of media in courtrooms.
Following the verdict, reports from South African media outlet News24 indicate that Omotoso will be deported back to Nigeria.
