Nigerian Pastor Timothy Omotoso Rearrested in South Africa Following Rape Acquittal
Timothy Omotoso, a Nigerian televangelist recently acquitted of multiple rape charges, has been re-arrested for immigration violations, according to South African police on Saturday, May 10.
Omotoso was released in April 2025 after serving nine years in prison while awaiting trial for charges of rape and sexual assault against several young women from his congregation.
He was acquitted when the judge determined that, although the pastor’s explanations seemed unlikely, the state prosecutors had mishandled the case.
Following his acquittal, immigration officials and police apprehended Omotoso in East London on Saturday morning, shortly after church services, as reported by police commissioner General Fannie Masemola.
“He will be facing charges related to violations to the Immigration Act and he will appear in court on Monday,” he said.
The 66-year-old pastor of the Jesus Dominion International (JDI) church in South Africa was initially arrested in 2017 on 32 charges, including rape, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking.
Numerous young women, some still in school at the time, testified that they were specifically chosen by Omotoso, who would pray for their forgiveness after each encounter.
In April, Eastern Cape High Court judge Irma Schoeman criticized the prosecution’s management of the case, stating that the state had failed to prove its case against Omotoso and two of his assistants beyond a reasonable doubt.
