Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso left South Africa on Sunday amid widespread controversy surrounding his recent acquittal in a high-profile rape trial.
Omotoso, who faced 32 charges including rape, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking, was found not guilty last month after spending eight years in jail.
The verdict, delivered by Judge Irma Schoeman in the Eastern Cape High Court, sparked public outrage due to the judge’s criticism of the prosecution’s handling of the case. The judge noted that the state’s cross-examination was of “poor quality,” which undermined the case against Omotoso and his co-accused Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho.
Images from Johannesburg’s OR Tambo Airport showed Omotoso, dressed in a grey hoodie and sunglasses, engaging with immigration officials before his flight to Nigeria. Although the exact departure time was not disclosed, a transport ministry official confirmed that Omotoso did not require special clearance to leave the country.
Despite the acquittal, South African prosecutors announced plans to appeal the ruling and investigate the prosecuting team’s conduct. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) stated, “There are reasonable prospects of a successful appeal despite the complexities of the legal process”.
Omotoso leads the Jesus Dominion International church, headquartered in Durban, with branches in Nigeria and Israel. He was rearrested on immigration charges on May 10 but was released by a magistrate’s court, which ruled he could not be detained for more than 48 hours without formal charges.
