On Friday, the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence court sentenced Feyi Daniels, the founder of iReign Christian Ministry, to life imprisonment for the rape of a female church member. The trial judge, Rahman Oshodi, found the Lagos-based pastor guilty of rape and sexual assault following the prosecution’s case.
Earlier reports by The PUNCH revealed that Bishop Daniels, who took the witness stand in his own defense, claimed that three out of the four women accusing him of sexual assault conspired against him. During cross-examination, the prosecution’s lead counsel, Babajide Boye, sought to establish a personal relationship between the defendant and the four women, accusing Daniels of using his pastoral position to manipulate those seeking counseling.
Boye questioned, “You are a man of God. Are you not? A powerful man of God. You get trained to counsel, and you use wisdom and the leading of the spirit to manipulate.” However, Daniels denied these allegations, stating, “I am not a powerful man; I am a pastor. I do not use power to counsel people; I am not a manipulator.”
The prosecutor also highlighted an incident where one of the alleged victims reportedly hissed upon seeing the pastor at his Akungba fellowship centre. Daniels explained, “She was disgruntled because I couldn’t help her financially.”