Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso who was acquitted of all 32 charges after spending eight years in a South African prison has spoken of his ordeal and next action. The verdict was delivered on Wednesday at the Gqeberha High Court.
Pastor Omotosho was accused of raping young women in his church, but he denied all 32 charges which included rape, human trafficking and racketeering in a widely followed trial which attracted attention of global media.
The trial was the first high-profile rape case broadcast live in South Africa amid debates on victims’ rights, privacy and courtroom transparency.
Speaking after he was acquitted, he gushed: “I thank God, I thank God.”
Omotosho who will turn 67 by next July, added that he has been in prison for 8 years.
On whether he would take a legal action against his accusers, he said “I will rest before thinking of anything. I will give some time for that.”
A judge ruled on Wednesday that prosecutors mishandled the case, an argument supported by South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
Omotoso who was arrested in 2017 at the airport, expressed gratitude for the verdict. His co-accused, Lusanda Sulani and Zikiswa Sitho, were also acquitted.
Omotoso will be deported to Nigeria, according to South Africa authorities.
Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso and his co-accused Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho have been found not guilty on all charges.
The trio faced over 30 charges, including rape, human trafficking and racketeering.
The verdict was delivered on Wednesday at the Gqeberha High Court.
Omotoso spent eight years in prison and, in previous court appearances, he denied all the charges against him.
