The Lagos State Government has arraigned the founder of I Reign Christian Ministry, Bishop Oluwafeyiropo Daniel for allegedly raping two of his church members (names withheld).
He was arraigned before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos State Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court sitting in Ikeja.
According to the prosecution, the defendant allegedly committed the offences sometime in June 2020 in Ikota Villa Estate, Lekki, Lagos, and the offences contravene Sections 260 (2) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
The clergyman pleaded not guilty to the charge against him and his counsel, Olukunle Oyewole subsequently asked the court to grant him bail.
While moving the arguments for bail, the defence counsel urged the court to grant bail to the defendant on liberal terms.
Oyewole argued that the defendant had been on police administrative bail since May 20, 2022, and had made himself available to the police.
“My lord, the defendant was not informed on the day the matter came up for the first time before this court.
“The defendant is a well-known religious leader and he has shown by his actions that he will not jump bail.
“The offence for which he is charged is a bailable offence and he has credible sureties that can stand for him,” the lawyer said.
The lead prosecution counsel for the state, Mr Babajide Boye, had however urged the court to refuse the bail application of the defendant.
Boye argued that the offence was a serious one and that the likelihood of conviction might put the defendant at flight risk.
“There is also the possibility of the defendant interfering with the prosecution witnesses. He is a bishop of so many branches and if granted bail, he may use his position to influence the prosecution witnesses as he is regarded as a man of authority who has the possibility of committing the same crime.
“We urge the court to deny the defendant bail because he has failed to provide the court exceptional circumstances to grant him bail,” the prosecutor submitted.
After listening to both parties, Justice Oshodi admitted the clergyman to bail in the sum of N20 million bail with two sureties in like sum.
He said one of the sureties must be the owner of a landed property in Lagos State and the property must be enough to cover the bail sum.
“The original document of the landed property must also be submitted to the chief registrar of Lagos State,” the court held.
Other conditions of bail include that the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and must have paid three years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
The judge also ordered the defendant to deposit his international passport with the chief registrar of the court while ordering an accelerated hearing of the case.
Pending the perfection of these bail conditions, the court ordered the remand of a clergyman at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
Justice Rahman then adjourned till May 9 for trial.
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