After spending eight years behind bars, Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso has been acquitted of all charges in a high-profile South African trial that was broadcast live and drew nationwide attention.
Omotoso, who led a church in Port Elizabeth, had been accused of raping young women from his congregation, with 32 charges filed against him. One of the witnesses in the 2018 trial alleged that he raped her when she was just 14 years old.
However, on Wednesday, the presiding judge ruled that Omotoso was not guilty, citing serious prosecutorial misconduct. South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) admitted that previous prosecutors had acted improperly and failed to cross-examine the accused sufficiently.
In response to the verdict, the NPA stated that it would review its legal options, noting that the lengthy trial had been prolonged by multiple legal challenges from Omotoso.
Speaking to the media after the ruling, Omotoso expressed gratitude, saying he “thanked God for the verdict.” His co-accused, Lusanda Sulani and Zikiswa Sitho, were also acquitted.
Omotoso was originally arrested in 2017 in a dramatic airport operation as he attempted to leave South Africa. His trial, the first major rape case to be televised in a country grappling with high levels of sexual violence, sparked intense debate on victims’ rights, judicial impartiality, and the impact of live courtroom broadcasts on justice.
Following his acquittal, South African media outlet News24 reported that Omotoso will be deported to Nigeria.
