On Friday, a few members of the iReign Christian Ministry in Lagos voiced dismay over the life sentence that an Ikeja Sexual Offenses and Domestic Violence Court handed down for the organization’s founder and senior pastor, Bishop Oluwafeyiropo (Feyi) Daniels, for the rape of a church member.
According to churchgoers who talked with journalists, the pastor is a victim, and his incarceration won’t stop God’s work. The church is located at 1a Gbolade Adebanjo Crescent, Opebi, Ikeja.
Daniels was given a life sentence by the court on Friday for the rape of his assistant, who is 23 years old.
The beleaguered bishop was also sentenced to three years in prison by Judge Rahman Oshodi, who presided over the 324-page ruling, for having sexually assaulted a 19-year-old church member.
He decided that the elements of rape and sexual assault—counts one and three—had been shown beyond a reasonable doubt by the prosecution against Daniels.
He also believed that the preacher ought to live out his days at the Kirikiri Correctional Facility in Lagos.
He said that the third witness’s testimony supported the first prosecution witness’s testimony.
However, the judge dismissed the charges against him and cleared him of the second count of rape (name withheld) on the grounds that consent was involved.
Additionally, Justice Oshodi cleared Daniels of all charges related to the attempted rape (count four) of a 19-year-old member of his church.
He claimed that the prisoner used his authority and role as a clergyman to conduct the crimes with no regard for the truth.
“Oluwafeyiropo Daniels, I have convicted you of sexually violating two women who were members of your church,” Judge Oshodi declared.
“In the first one, you brutally violated her and caused her great pain.” In the second, you used your position as a clergyman and your domineering persona to sexually abuse someone.
“These are serious offenses; sexual assault carries a three-year prison sentence, while rape carries a life sentence.”
The judge also stated that even though Adebayo Adegbite, the defense attorney, pleaded with the court to exercise its discretion in sentencing, Lagos State law mandated a mandatory penalty for rape.
“I sentence you as follows: on count one, I sentence you to life imprisonment; on count three, I sentence you to three years imprisonment and you shall also serve your term in the maximum security custodial center where you are currently being held,” the speaker continued, “due to the seriousness and the ferocity of the attack on his victims.”
According to Oshodi, the convict’s name should be entered into the Lagos State Sex Offender Registry and the sentence should be served concurrently.
When the judge asked the convicted man whether he had anything to say after being found guilty, he stayed mute.