A cleric, Daniel Oluwafeyiropo who recently prophesied against the victory of the president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was on Monday remanded in the Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
The Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court remanded Oluwafeyiropo, the founder of “I Reign Christian Ministry,” in prison following rape charges instituted against him.
Information Nigeria reports that the charges were filed against him by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, on behalf of some of his church members.
Babajide Martins, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Lagos, said “After a consideration of the facts available in the duplicate case file, the office of the DPP is of the view that there exists prima facie, the offence of Rape under Section 260 of the Criminal Law, Ch C17, Vol.3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015 against the Suspect Oluwafeyiropo Daniel.”
But, counsel to the cleric, Olukunle Oyewole after pleading not guilty to the charges, urged the judge, Ramon Oshodi, to grant him bail on liberal terms.
He said, “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 is a bailable offence and he has credible sureties that can stand for him.”
Babjide Boye, the State’s lead prosecution counsel, however, urged the court to deny him bail, adding he is a flight risk.
Justice Oshodi in his ruling granted him N20 million bail with two sureties in like sum, ordering that he should be remanded in prison pending the perfection of the bail.
Ahead of his appearance in court on Monday, the cleric had claimed that the rape allegations against him were untrue and political because of his predictions about the 2023 elections.
He said, “If my words mean anything to you, I want to say to you, I have never raped anyone in my life.”
Recall the cleric had stated that Tinubu would be unlawfully declared the winner of the 2023 presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
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