Crime & Court
Female Pastor narrates how Lagos Bishop allegedly raped, threatened her with madness
A 23-year-old former assistant pastor has told the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court in Ikeja, Lagos State how one Bishop Oluwafeyiropo Daniels allegedly raped her twice.
The female pastor testified on Tuesday for the prosecution at the bishop’s trial. She was led in evidence by Lagos State counsel, Mr. Babajide Boye.
According to the information scooped from Channels Television, the witness, who is a former assistant pastor of the church’s branch in Akungba, Akure, explained to the court presided over by Justice Ramon Oshodi that her first encounter with the bishop was on May 28, 2018, when he visited Akure for a programme.
The victim, who was led in examination in chief by the Lagos State prosecution counsel, Mr. Babajide Boye, testified that subsequently, she became a member of the church and at some point when her pastor, Toyosi Bamishe, needed to hand over to Pastor Boluwatife Oladejo, she was made the Assistant Pastor.
She added that on June 21, 2020, the defendant ordered her to come to the sitting room for her report of the church, and then he showed her the plans he had for the church in the next five to 10 years.
The victim said after that she was listening to a message by a prominent Pentecostal pastor on television when he came back to the sitting room and ordered her to take off her clothes.
According to her, the defendant increased the volume of the television, and he also went naked and raped her for about 30 minutes until she started bleeding and sustained tears despite not being a virgin.
“He pinned me against a three-seater couch and raped me. He was bigger than me, and I was bleeding from my private part.
“I was begging him, but he didn’t listen. I told him I was bleeding, he said he knows that I should shut up.
“When he was done, he ordered me to go wash up immediately. He collected my phone and said I should not tell anybody about it and that the day I told anyone, I will run mad.
“I was very scared and the whole thing was like a drama to me, then I went back to the guest room and on the next day, June 22, I got my phone and sent Pastor Oladejo a message on WhatsApp through a code, and he figured that I had been violated.
“Bishop Daniels did not allow me to go out. If I wanted to go out, he will send the security man, it was then that I knew that he was a rapist. I remembered how my friend had told me that she was violated by Bishop, and he tried to harm her.
“For my safety, I started behaving mad and at night he came to the room and said he wanted to have sex with me, I refused and told him I had tears from the previous forceful violation, then he got very angry and left the room.
“On June 23, in the morning I was planning how to leave and when I came out of the room, he was tying a red towel and said I should even be happy that he raped me and that he told me he wanted to have sex with me again, and I rejected him.
“He said that plenty of people would have been happy that he had sex with them, then he took off my clothes and raped me again. He told me that I would die if I told anyone.
“I bled the second time, then he ordered me again to go take my bath and ordered me back to the room, and immediately, I sent a message to Pastor Oladejo that Bishop had raped me again.
“After I sent the message, Bishop came into the room and started begging me. He was crying and saying he didn’t know what came over him and that it had never happened before, and it will not happen again,” she narrated.
She also testified that the defendant had a meeting in Ghana, and he later travelled to the meeting and sent her N5,000 to get drugs because the tears that she got from the forceful sex had turned into boils.
She said when she visited her sister’s house, she couldn’t tell her what had happened.
“I told Bishop that I was in severe pain and that I might need surgery as I could not urinate. He said he would come back from Ghana on June 30, with his wife and two children, and take me to the hospital.
“When he returned with his wife Awele and children, almost immediately the wife entered the house, she noticed the way I was walking, and she asked what happened and Bishop Feyi Daniels told her that I had toilet infection and that he was going to take me to the hospital the next day”.
She explained that the defendant later took her to First City Hospital at Lekki where she met a doctor – Tina Clement – who was also a member of the Lekki Church.
The victim said before they got to the hospital, the defendant had warned her in the car that she should tell the doctor that she was raped by her boyfriend.
“He stayed there throughout the questioning by the doctor and the results were sent to him, and he later got the prescribed drugs for me. Up until today, I don’t know what is the result of the test that was done,” she continued.
The court has adjourned until May 24 and 25 for the continuation of the trial.
A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Iyaganku, Ibadan, has ordered the remand of three individuals in connection with last week’s tragic stampede at Bashorun Islamic High School, which claimed the lives of 35 children and left many others injured.
The accused include Abdullahi Fasasi, the school’s principal; Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat, proprietor of Agidigbo FM; and Naomi Silekunola, estranged wife of the Ooni of Ife. The trio was arraigned by the Oyo State Police Command on Tuesday, before Chief Magistrate Olabisi Ogunkanmi.
The court proceedings, held under heightened security, drew a large crowd of family members and concerned citizens. According to the police prosecutor, the defendants face four counts, including charges under Section 324 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
After hearing the charges, Chief Magistrate Ogunkanmi ruled that the accused be remanded at the Agodi Correctional Center, pending further directives from the state prosecutor.
Southern Governors Pay Condolence Visit
In a related development, Southern governors, led by the Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum (SGF) and Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, paid a condolence visit to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.
Addressing reporters after the visit, Governor Abiodun described the stampede as a tragic turn of events from a well-intentioned initiative. He urged non-governmental organizations to collaborate with government agencies to ensure better planning for charity programs.
“I am here on behalf of myself, my family, the people of Ogun State, and the Southern Governors’ Forum to commiserate with Governor Makinde and the people of Oyo State on the unfortunate incident of December 18, 2024,” Abiodun said.
“The entire Southern governors are deeply pained by this tragedy. In Ogun State, we believe anything that affects Oyo State affects us as well. Our prayer is that such an incident never happens again. We will continue to hold the bereaved families and the people of Oyo State in our prayers.”
The Southern Governors’ Forum also expressed solidarity with the affected families, praying for the repose of the departed souls and quick recovery for those injured.
A Magistrate Court sitting in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, has granted human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi, bail to the tune of ₦30 million. The court also mandated Farotimi to provide three sureties with landed properties within its jurisdiction.
As part of the bail conditions, the court ordered Farotimi to refrain from granting media interviews and to submit his international passport to the authorities. The case has been adjourned to February 13, 2025, for further proceedings.
Farotimi, who had been remanded at a correctional center in Ado Ekiti, arrived at the court premises on Friday at approximately 9:45 a.m. He was conveyed in a prison van accompanied by a police escort. Upon arrival, the embattled lawyer raised his hands in appreciation of a cheering crowd that had gathered outside the court to show their solidarity.
The human rights advocate is facing prosecution for allegedly defaming a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Afe Babalola. His arrest has ignited widespread public outcry, with many Nigerians and civil society groups condemning the action and demanding his immediate release.
Farotimi’s detention and subsequent arraignment have fueled debates about the boundaries of free speech and defamation laws in Nigeria, with critics arguing that the case may stifle dissenting voices in the country.
Police operatives have apprehended a 25-year-old man, Enediong Bassey, in possession of a pump-action gun concealed in a bag of rice at Nkwelle-Ezunaka.
The suspect, a native of Ikono Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State, was arrested on November 22, 2024, at 6:38 pm following credible intelligence.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Anambra State Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga.
The statement revealed that officers attached to the 3-3 Divisional Headquarters, led by CSP Emeka Obi, acted swiftly to intercept Bassey.
During interrogation, he admitted to being a member of a local vigilante group but confessed to plans of absconding with the weapon to join a criminal gang involved in armed robbery and other illicit activities.
“Given the above and following other complaints and unprofessional conduct by some security outfits and vigilante members, the Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, in line with the principles of community policing, reiterates the calls for profiling of security operatives assisting the police and other security agencies on anti-crime operations to improve safety in the state,” the statement read.
In light of the situation, the Commissioner of Police has directed the immediate transfer of the suspect to the command’s anti-robbery squad for a thorough investigation.
The Anambra State Police Command reassured residents of its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of lives and property, urging vigilance and collaboration with law enforcement.
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