The founder of “I Reign Christian Ministry”, Daniel Oluwafeyiropo, has been remanded in Kirikiri Correctional Centre over allegations that he raped two of his church members.
The clergyman was remanded by an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Monday pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions.
The offense was reportedly committed in June 2020 at Ikota Villa Estate, Lekki, Lagos.
The defence counsel, Mr Olukunle Oyewole, while moving his bail application dated April 10, prayed the court to grant bail to the defendant on liberal terms.
He told the court that his client 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.
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“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 leads 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.
Oluwafeyiropo was earlier arraigned on a two-count bordering on rape.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
According to the prosecution, the alleged offence contravened Sections 260 (2) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
Justice Ramon Oshodi admitted the defendant to N20 million bail with two sureties in like sum.
The judge ruled that one of the sureties presented by the defendant must own a build-up property in Lagos State worth the bail sum.
Justice Oshodi said, “The original document of the landed property must be submitted to 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.”
Furthermore, he directed an accelerated hearing of the case and ordered the accused to deposit his international passport with the chief registrar of the court.
Oshodi adjourned the case until May 9 for trial.