Rita Odafe
Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso, who was found not guilty of serious sexual offenses, has been rearrested for immigration violations, according to South African police on Saturday, May 10.
After spending nine years in jail awaiting trial for allegations of sexual assault and r@pe against several young women from his church, Omotoso was released in April 2025.
The judge acquitted him, citing significant flaws in the prosecution’s case despite concerns about the credibility of the pastor’s testimonies.
Shortly after his acquittal, law enforcement officials detained Omotoso in East London on Saturday morning, right after church services, as stated by police commissioner General Fannie Masemola.
“He is facing immigration-related charges and will appear in court on Monday,” he informed the media.
At 66, Omotoso is the head of the Jesus Dominion International (JDI) church in South Africa. He was initially arrested in 2017 on 32 charges, including r@pe, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking.
Numerous young women, some of whom were minors at the time, claimed they were selectively chosen by Omotoso, who would seek forgiveness after each incident.
In April, Judge Irma Schoeman of the Eastern Cape High Court criticized the prosecution’s methods, stating that they failed to establish their case against Omotoso and his two associates beyond a reasonable doubt.
