Controversial Preacher Timothy Omotoso Arrested Again, This Time for Immigration Violations
South African authorities have detained once more a Nigerian clergyman allegedly involved in sexual assault incidents.
Y'all probably heard about Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso, right? You remember, the guy who was cleared of multiple rape allegations last month after nine long years in custody? Well, it turns out the South African police got him again—this time, he's caught up in some immigration business.
According to the latest scoop, Omotoso got nabbed in East London this past weekend during church services, as reported by General Fannie Masemola to the press. He's plunged into trouble due to charges related to violations of the Immigration Act and will face the music in court on Monday.
You might recall that this pastor from the Jesus Dominion International (JDI) church was first busted in 2017, slammed with a whopping 32 counts—ranging from rape to human trafficking and racketeering. Several young women, some still students at the time, accused Omotoso of selecting them for his own vile purposes. Allegedly, he'd approach them for forgiveness through prayer after each encounter.
Let's face it—the trial didn't go well for the state. The judge slammed them for poorly managing the case, stating the prosecution had totally failed to establish its case against Omotoso and his two co-defendants beyond reasonable doubt. South Africa, with one of the highest rates of rape and gender-based violence globally, is no stranger to such unwanted incidents. In the 2023-24 financial year alone, over 42,500 rapes were reported, averaging more than 116 rapes per day.
But, hey, that's another story for another day. Back to Timmy here—the community is already buzzing with calls for his deportation, and it looks like the religious groups are rallying behind the women who bravely came forward. ActionSA, a political party, is also on board, advocating for Omotoso to get booted outta South Africa.
Now, here's a fun fact—his visa expired back in 2017, and he didn't have a pending application when they grabbed him. Guess he hadn't learned his lesson about playing by the rules. So, that's it, folks. We'll keep you updated as more details unfold.
Bonus reading:
- Kidnap During Sermon: American Pastor's Wild Adventure in South Africa- 2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Chelle Talks Beating South Africa, Rwanda- Super Eagles Must Rise Against South Africa to Qualify for World Cup - Eric Chelle- Lesotho Didn't Report South Africa to FIFA for Cheating - LFA Secretary-General- Lesotho Coach Speaks on South Africa's Potential 3 Points Forfeiture- Hugo Broos Confident South Africa Will Qualify for 2026 World Cup Ahead of Nigeria
- The South African police arrested controversial Nigerian preacher Timothy Omotoso again, this time for immigration violations during church services in East London.
- Omotoso, who is a pastor at the Jesus Dominion International (JDI) church, was initially arrested in 2017 for a multitude of charges, including rape and human trafficking.
- The political party, ActionSA, and various religious groups are urging for Omotoso's deportation following his latest arrest, with some South Africans calling for stricter laws against religious leaders who engage in criminal activities.
- It is interesting to note that Omotoso's visa expired in 2017, and he was not in the process of applying for a new one when he was arrested this past weekend.
