Founder of iReign Christian Ministry Bishop Feyi Daniels Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Rape
In a landmark verdict, the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence court handed down a life imprisonment sentence to Feyi Daniels, the founder of iReign Christian Ministry, for the rape and sexual assault of a female church member.
The trial judge, Rahman Oshodi, declared the Lagos-based cleric guilty after a thorough examination of the case. Daniels, who took the witness box in his own defence, maintained that three out of the four women accusing him of sexual assault conspired against him. He alleged that there was a personal vendetta, emphasizing that one of the accusers later apologized.
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Bishop Feyi Daniels
During cross-examination, the prosecution’s lead counsel, Babajide Boye, aimed to establish a ‘personal relationship’ between Feyi Daniels and the four women. Boye claimed that the defendant had counselled one woman, financially supported another for medical treatment, paid school fees for a third, and maintained a leadership role in the campus fellowship connected to his ministry in Ondo State.
Feyi Daniels refuted the claim of providing financial assistance for medical treatment and asserted, “I believe all three ladies turned against me, but not [name withheld] because she later apologized to me.”
The prosecution questioned the consistent sexual nature of the accusations, to which Daniels responded that he was unaware of the reasons behind it. Boye also accused Daniels of using his pastoral position to manipulate individuals seeking counselling.
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“You are a man of God. Are you not? A powerful man of God. You get trained to counsel, and you use wisdom and the leading of the spirit to manipulate,” Boye asserted during the cross-examination.
The sentencing marks a significant development in the legal battle against sexual offences within religious institutions, shedding light on the complexities surrounding such cases and the responsibility of spiritual leaders in positions of trust.
