After months of uncertainty and pressure from rights groups, the founder of " I reign christian ministry" Pastor Daniel Oluwafeyiropo popularly known as bishop Feyi has been arraign over allegations of rape.
Bishop Feyi as he is popularly known has allegedly been on the run and efforts to get him to face his alleged crime seemed like a herculean task . However, the long arm of the law catch up with him as he was arraigned on Monday at an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court.
Bishop Feyi was earlier arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on rape.
The prosecution had said the defendant allegedly committed the offences sometimes in June 2020 at Ikota Villa Estate, Lekki, Lagos.
According to the prosecution, the alleged offence contravened Sections 260 (2) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendant however pleaded not guilty.
Justice Ramon Oshodi remanded the founder of “I Reign Christian Ministry” in Kirikiri Correctional Centre pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions.
Oshodi admitted the defendant to N20 million bail with two sureties in like sum.
He said one of the sureties must be owner of a build-up property in Lagos State and the property must be enough to cover the bail sum.
“The original document of the landed property must be submitted the chief registrar of Lagos State.
“The sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and must have three years’ tax payment to the Lagos State,” he said.
The judge also ordered the defendant to deposit his international passport with the chief registrar of the court and ordered accelerated hearing of the case.
Oshodi adjourned the case until May 9 for trial.
Earlier, the defence counsel, Mr Olukunle Oyewole, while moving his bail application dated April 10, urged the court to grant bail to the defendant on liberal terms.
Oyewole argued that the defendant had been on police administrative bail since May 20, 2023, and had made himself available to the police.
“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,” he said.
The state lead prosecution counsel, Mr Babjide Boye, in his counter affidavit dated April 14, urged the court to refuse the bail application of the defendant, however, left it at the discretion of the court.
Boye, however, argued that the offence was a serious one and the likelihood of conviction might put the defendant at flight risk.
“There is also a possibility of the defendant interfering with the prosecution witnesses.
“He is a bishop of so many branches and if granted bail, he may use his position to influence the prosecution witnesses as he is regarded as a man of authority who has the possibility of committing the same crime.
“We urge the court to deny the defendant bail because he has failed to provide the court exceptional circumstances to grant him bail,” the prosecutor submitted.
According to Torinews, The judge also ordered the defendant to deposit his international passport with the chief registrar of the court and ordered accelerated hearing of the case.
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Before the bishop's arraignment, Rights groups under the auspices of Advocates For Children and Vulnerable Persons Network ACVPN had condemned the delay in arraigning the bishop considering the gravity of the alleged offence.
Ebeneezer Omiejalile the coordinator of ACVPN said " Yes it's true the rapist is actually walking free with his fake prophecy no thanks to the Agency propaganda
The condemnation read " A serial rapist becomes a super star under Lagos state government funded organisation (DSVRT)
DSVRT had failed our brothers and sisters. The management should be dissolved. My personal and direct experience with DSVRT shows that they are not overwhelmed by cases but they are dubious and opportunists. It is a pity that an agency that is supposed to rescue and protect the abused and neglected are opportunists that feed on the same victims they are supposed to protect for their own selfish interest.
Just like private doctors pray for more people to fall sick so DSVRT encourages evil people to increase and continue their evil plots; because they are a bunch of selfish and incompetent people in an agency that is supposed to hold them accountable. Well, DSVRT claims they have no power to do anything, but I ask myself, what is the essence of establishing an organisation that is ineffective, an organisation that depends on the victims resources or their case will die. And they get paid with our tax money to just go to their office and do nothing.
They claim they know no officials to report the police and DPP to but when it was time for Sanwo Olu to go for a second term, they seem to know him so well. They reported how directly he had contributed to their organisation and how close he is to the agency. I also heard Sanwo Olu's wife oversees DSVRT. When they are supposed to be busy advocating on behalf of victims, they are on social media campaigning for their wet ground (Sanwo Olu) since he was benefiting their pockets. No wonder their director Lola Vivour even campaigned against his own brother or the detriment of his own brother. Westin money no go do.
Feyi Daniel, who is supposed to be in jail is also trending using prophecy to campaign for Sanwo Olu. Prophecy he made up to manipulate subscriptions to Sanwo Olu so he can possibly be vindicated when he is charged to court or the case is delayed longer. I do not know what concerns God with Lagos Politics. Christians are so gullible and easily manipulated. A serial rapist is now on social media trending to the gullible because of incompetent of DSVRT. A man that is supposed to be treated worse than COVID 19. Numbers of victims of rape are increasing under his care and DSVRT are sitting and crossing their legs because an time for election. A serial rapist becomes a super star under Lagos state government funded organisation.
Many cases reported to DSVRT had died because victims can’t sponsor themselves. Victims are deliberately frustrated so they can move on or forget their cases. The victims were continually frustrated by DSVRT. They never provide a lawyer even at victims request, they never offer counselling. Really, is DSVRT really established to meet the needs of victims? Where is all our tax money going? Who does DSVRT report to? That person needs to be probed. Their employees are not even training professionals, they do not know how to talk to victims, they are not compassionate in their duties, DSVRT is not a place you go to find peace but pain on your pain.
Rights advocates have expressed anger when bishop Feyi was seen in a trending video giving prophesy concerning the 2023 elections in Nigeria earlier in the year and they called for his immediate arrest.
One Advocate said " Is it the pastor that is playing with the judicial system or that, the entire system is thoroughly messed up?
If the investigation and litigation process were not compromised probably he would be behind bars and not dishing out prophecy"
Mr Omiejalile said " Yes this is the notorious Pastor Feyi Daniel, self acclaimed Bishop notorious rapist who hide under the disguise of the State Agency propaganda.
Exactly one year Baba Ijesha got his prison sentence, while Feyi Daniel is walking free and had the audacity to still spill prophecy on election matter, I wonder if heaven got a place for such Demons .
No matter how long it's takes Feyi Daniel is not far from prison yard ,those supporting him should ask , from the likes Pastor Douglas omosakpae, Dr. Femi and others.
The religious regulatory Association should start purging it's self from such self inflicted calamity"
Another Advocate stated " Feyi should be arrested as soon as possible so he does not run away. He is supposed to be in a cell at police custody. The is rape allegation. He is not supposed to be at his house seeing very politicians who will cry or win elections. Serial Rapist (Feyi Daniel) Preying on our Girls even after DPP ordered Prosecution. ".
" Feyi and God na Padi now o. See how God is being mocked daily. In a country where there is CAN.And most gullible nigerians won't understand this man. Because they are not Christians, and they do not understand their Bible.Prophesies for the gullibles
" Let us agree that there are some corrupt officers at Alagbon FCID. What about DSVRT? What is the difference between Alagbon FCID and DSVRT? It has been 4 months since the DPP had indicated a criminal who lured gullibles with prophecies and taking advantage of them. A serial rapist. And DSVRT made no attempt to arrest him or secure his arrest warrant. It is either they do not have money for that and expecting victims to sponsor that again or there is someone at DSVRT working for Feyi Daniel.
"I do not expect Alagbon FCID to make any arrest because I understood last year that the government does not pay them enough to arrest criminals 😆 . Supol Yemi indicated last year that they have no vehicle to arrest criminals and we need to pay some money before she can leave her office with her boys. So my sisters living close to Alagbon, when you are working by the police station at Alagbon, wear trouser o, put padlock because if any man attempt to rape you, the officer would just be looking him have his way o.
Yes, Alagbon police collected over 95k before they could make an attempt to arrest Feyi Daniel which was not successful. Supol Yemi claimed they have no vehicle to arrest a serial rapist preying on our girls and duping our brothers on a daily basis. Then I asked her " So the government pays you separately to arrest criminals. What a country. I remember one of the victims that was going through trauma had to give Supol Yemi 30,000naira before she could join the bus or arrange his boys for the boys. The second attempt of arrest, I remember mistakenly sending Supol Yemi 15,000naira from my direct account; that was how my full name was leaked in the hands of Feyi and his lawyer. A police assisting criminal in a case. Supol Yemi investigated for about 3 months and had no report to show. All efforts of the victims were wasted. Another officer had to investigate the second time … well that is by the way
I believe DSVRT's mission is not just advocate for victims, but to radically prevent abuse or rape while they fight or advocate for justice on behalf of abuses victims. I remember calling DSVRT that there was a new case of rape from the same Feyi, there response was, "dont worry we are working on the case". What a stupid answer. You see a crazy man shooting at people in a market, you say don't worry, leave him, his case is already in court. Maybe their intention is to gather more victims so their caseload can add up and their money or funding increases. Feyi is their man helping them.
DPP communicated a dangerous man out there using prophecies in disguise to prey on innocent gullible victims. And DSVRT had not done anything about his arrest. They need to let the victims know if they need them to pay some money to initiate the arrest. After their oga will sit down and say you can't compare tomatoes with potatoes. Are we supposed to take some criminals likely than others especially when it is sexual violence? Mr Olaleye's case is almost coming to an end at the court because he is a known man and DSVRT wants the glory and show Nigerians they are working when they are doing nothing. Baba Ijesha's case was quick because he is a celebrity. But Feyi and his victims are not popular"
If nothing is done in the next two days about Feyi's arrest, I will personally write to United Nation Human Rights through my agency about a serial rapist being protected by DSVRT in lagos. And how they bill victims before they help."
" She said Feyi wife ran away because Feyi had been raping girls. She had to send him packing.She said Feyi wife ran away because Feyi had been raping girls. She had to send him packing"
According to Saturday Punch , Daniels is married and had children . first victim, the assistant pastor, who was based in Ondo, was summoned to the Lagos headquarters of the church where the incident happened.
While speaking to The PUNCH in June 2022, she said she was summoned to the church headquarters in Lagos as punishment for an undisclosed offence.
She said, “So, I went to his house in Lekki for the punishment and when I got there, he said I should strip naked because he wanted to beat me. He was alone at home. He saw that I was shocked at his statement and started making me feel guilty.
“He said his spiritual father tested him in many areas and after hours of contemplating, he became angry that I disobeyed him. So, I went into the guest room, took off my clothes and closed my eyes as I came out to meet him. He told me not to close my eyes, and ordered me to kneel as he sat on a chair.
“He saw my nakedness and said he wanted to test my loyalty and was not having sex with me. He told me to put my clothes back and after wearing them, he told me to take them off again and I did. He later told me to go and not tell anyone, but after leaving his place, I told some of our senior church members.”
The victim said she returned home and after some time, Daniel called her to report at his residence over another incident.
She said, “So, while at his house, he told me he would punish me for an offence and said I should transcribe the messages in one of his teachings. The next day, the pastor of the branch in Ibadan and his wife, whom I met at his residence the previous day left, so I was alone in the house with Bishop Daniel."
Victims from Feyi Daniel had spent over 1million and DSVRT spent nothing. They made the victims sponsor themselves or their case would die"
Bishop Feyi remanded For Alleged rape of church members.