Pastor Oluwafeyiropo Daniels was arraigned on Monday at the Lagos State Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court in Ikeja, for allegedly raping two female members of his church whose identities were withheld.
The founder of “I Reign Christian Ministry” was arraigned on a two-count charge that bordered on having unlawful sexual intercourse with the young women. Feyi Daniels pleaded not guilty to the charge.
According to the prosecution, the defendant committed the offenses in June 2020 within Ikota Villa Estate, Lekki. The alleged offenses are said to contravene Sections 260 (2) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
Justice Ramon Oshodi remanded the accused at the Nigeria Maximum Security Correctional Centre, Kirikiri, pending the fulfillment of his bail conditions.
However, the defendant applied for bail in liberal terms, and his counsel, Olukunle Oyewole, told the court that the defendant had been on police administrative bail since May 20, 2022, and had always made himself available to the police upon demand.
He added that the defendant was not informed on the day the matter came up for the first time before the court.
“The defendant is a well-known religious leader, and he has shown by his action that he will not jump bail. The offense for which he is charged with are bailable, and he has credible sureties that can stand for him,” he said.
The state lead prosecution counsel, Babajide Boye, in his counter affidavit dated April 14, urged the court to refuse the bail application of the defendant, arguing that the offenses were serious and carried a life sentence for each count.
The likelihood of conviction might make the defendant a flight risk, and there was also the possibility of the defendant interfering with the prosecution witnesses.
In his ruling, Justice Oshodi admitted the defendant to N20 million bail with two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties must own a built-up property in Lagos State and the property must be enough to cover the bail sum. The original document of the landed property is to be submitted to the chief registrar of Lagos State.
The sureties must also reside within the court’s jurisdiction and must have evidence of tax payment to the state government within the last three years.
The judge also ordered the defendant to deposit his international passport with the chief registrar of the court and ordered an acceleration hearing of the case. The case is adjourned till May 9 for the prosecution to open its case against the defendant.