A 23-year-old assistant pastor on Tuesday told the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court that Bishop Daniel Oluwafeyiropo, allegedly raped her twice.
Mr Daniel is standing trial on an amended three-count charge bordering on rape and sexual assault, to which he pleaded not guilty.
The assistant pastor (name withheld) testified for the prosecution at the bishop’s trial.
While being led in evidence by Lagos State counsel, Babajide Boye, she told the court she was an assistant pastor of 1 Reign Christian Ministry, founded by the bishop.
The witness said she knew the bishop on May 28, 2018, when her friend invited her to a church programme where the bishop ministered at Akungba, Akoko, Ondo State.
She said she subsequently became a church member and became an assistant pastor.
She said that Pastor Boluwatishe Oladejo took over from Pastor Toyosi Bamise as the lead pastor then.
The witness told the court that the bishop, who she regarded as her spiritual father, raped her at his residence on Ikota Villa Estate, Lekki, Lagos State, on June 21, 2020.
The witness said: “I was listening to Pastor Chris’s message when the bishop came to the three-seater chair I was sitting on and told me to go naked.
“For fear of what happened a day before, I went naked, and bishop locked the door, increased the volume of the television and went naked also.
“He pinned me to the chair and raped me. He was bigger than me.”
The witness said she appealed to the bishop to leave her, but he did not and threatened that she would run mad if she disclosed the incident.
“On June 22, I sent a message to Pastor Boluwatishe and informed him that I had been raped,” the alleged victim testified.
She also told the court that the bishop did not allow her to leave the house after the first alleged rape.
“I was in the room when he came again and said he wanted sex, but I refused.”
The witness said that, on June 23, 2020, the bishop also told her he wanted sex with her.
“That same morning of June 23, he removed my dress and raped me again in the sitting room and told me I would die if I should tell anyone. I bled a second time because of the forceful entry,” she said.
The alleged survivor also told the court that the defendant sent N5,000 to her from Ghana to treat herself because of the tears she had.
Also, she said the bishop had asked her to swear with a rod that she would run mad if she informed anyone of the incident.
“He took me to First City Hospital, Lekki, where Dr Tina Clement, a member of the church, attended to me, ran some tests, gave me drugs and sent the results to him.
“When the doctor asked what happened to me, the bishop told me to tell her my friend raped me, and he was with me throughout the tests,” she said.
A computer printout of chats between her and the defendant was admitted in evidence.
Mr Daniel is also alleged to have had sexual intercourse with one other person and sexually assaulted another, aged 19 years, by forcefully sucking her breasts.
The alleged offences contravene sections 260(2) and 263 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Justice Ramon Oshodi adjourned the case until May 24 for cross-examination of the witness and continuation of trial.
(NAN)
