Lagos bishop Daniel Oluwafeyiropo, accused of raping church members, closes defence

Oluwafeyiropo also denied tampering with WhatsApp messages between him and one of the alleged survivors.

By Jeffrey Agbo

Leader of I Reign Christian Ministry, Bishop Daniel Oluwafeyiropo, on Friday closed his defence in the case of alleged rape instituted against him.

Oluwafeyiropo is accused before an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court in Lagos of raping his assistant and another woman. He pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge.

Oluwafeyiropo opened defence on Tuesday and told the court that the alleged victims conspired against him.

During cross-examination by state counsel, Babajide Boye, on Friday, the defendant denied giving N100,000 to one of the alleged victims for medical treatment.

Mr Boye asked him if his position as a pastor and someone who people approached for counselling made him to manipulate people.

The defendant said: “I am not a manipulator. Three ladies turned against me but one of them later apologised to me.

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Rape caricature

“I am not a powerful man but I am a pastor, and I do not use power to counsel people.

“You get trained to counsel and you use wisdom and the leading of the spirit.”

The defendant also denied tampering with WhatsApp messages between him and one of the alleged survivors.

Defence counsel, Olukunle Oyewole, thereafter informed the court that Oluwafeyiropo would be closing his case.

Justice Rahman Oshodi admitted some extrajudicial statements from the defence counsel in evidence and marked them Exhibits E1 to E7.

Oshodi adjourned the case until December 20 for adoption of final written address by defence and prosecution counsel.

Jeffrey Agbo:
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