Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, sitting in Lagos state has today sentenced Bishop of “I Reign Christian Ministry”, Lagos, Feyiropo Daniels, to life imprisonment for raping his 23-year-old assistant pastor. Additionally, he was also jailed for another 3 years for sexually assaulting a 19-year-old member of his same church. The presiding judge, Justice Rahman Oshodi, held that the cleric deserve to spend the rest of his life at the Kirikiri custodial facility as he is now a predator.
Although, the accused is considered by his followers as a man of God, Oshodi court described Bishop Daniels as a liar who does not have any regard for truth in his dealings.
However, the court discharged and acquitted him on count two of the charge filed against him, which is rape of another member of the church (name withheld).
The Judge held that in the third case, it appears there was an element of consent from the church member.
Bishop was also discharged and acquitted on count four of the charge, which is attempted rape of a member of the church.
Daniels faced an amended four-count charge bordering on rape, attempted rape and sexual assault. Rape contravenes Section 260 (2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
During filling of the case, the assistant pastor, victim, had told the court how Bishop Daniels raped her while praying.
The alleged rape occurred at the cleric’s residence in the Lekki area of Lagos.
According to the victim submission, “On September 8, 2019, I told her (the assistant pastor) that I was going to Lagos for the laying of hands but the programme started late and there was nowhere to sleep because I had no one I could stay within Lagos. She told me to call and tell Feyi that I had no one to stay with for the night, and I did.
“He said there was no problem, and this made me follow him to his house with some other members, including Bro Israel and his wife, but they later left the house that same day,” she added.