Justice Ramon Oshodi of the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court has remanded a clergyman, Daniel Oluwafeyiropo for allegedly raping two of his church members (names withheld).
Oshodi gave the order on Monday to remand the suspect who is the founder of “I Reign Christian Ministry” in Kirikiri Correctional Centre pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions.
The judge granted the defendant N20 million bail with two sureties in like sum and said one of the sureties must be the owner of a build-up property in Lagos State and the property must be enough to cover the bail sum.
“The original document of the landed property must be submitted to the chief registrar of Lagos State.
“The sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and must have three years’ tax payment to the Lagos State,” he said.
Oshodi also directed the defendant to deposit his international passport with the chief registrar of the court and ordered an acceleration hearing of the case, while adjourning the case until May 9 for trial.
Earlier, the defence counsel, Mr Olukunle Oyewole, while moving his bail application dated April 10, pleaded with the court to grant the defendant bail on liberal terms.
Oyewole said the defendant had been on police administrative bail since May 20, 2023 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 action that he will not jump bail.
“The offence for which he is charged with is a bailable offences and he has credible sureties that can stand for him,” he said.
The prosecutor, Babjide Boye, urged the court to stop the bail application of the defendant, however, left it at the discretion if the court.
Boye, however, argued that the offences was a serious one and the likelihood of conviction might put the defendant on 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.
Oluwafeyiropo, who was earlier arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on rape, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
According to the prosecution, the defendant allegedly committed the offences sometime in June 2020 on Ikota Villa Estate, Lekki, Lagos.
According to the prosecution, the alleged offence contravened Sections 260 (2) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015
