A 23-year-old girl on Tuesday informed an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Home Violence Court docket in Lagos, how a preferred Lagos-based Bishop, Daniel Oluwafeyiropo, allegedly sexually abused her twice.
Bishop Daniel, the founding father of I Reign Christian Ministry is standing trial on an amended three-count cost bordering on rape and sexual assault, to which he pleaded not responsible.
He was alleged to have dedicated the offence generally in June 2020 at Flat 4, Highway 2, Home 18 Ikota Villa Property, Lekki, Lagos.
The 23-year-old girl (title withheld), who’s an assistant pastor at his church, testified for the prosecution on the bishop’s trial on Tuesday, Could ninth.
She informed Justice Ramon Oshodi that she was abused twice by the Bishop in his residence.
The witness stated she knew the bishop on Could 28, 2018, when her good friend invited her to a church programme the place the bishop ministered at Akungba, Akoko, Ondo State.
She stated she grew to become member of the church in Akungba and rose to the place of assistant pastor.
She informed the court docket that the Bishop, she considered her religious father abused her sexually at his residence on Flat 4, Highway 2, Home 18 at Ikota Villa Property, Lekki, Lagos on June 21, 2020.
Recounting the incident, she stated,
“I used to be listening to Pastor Chris’ message when bishop got here to the three-seater couch, I used to be sitting on. He informed me to go bare for the third time, however as a result of concern of what occurred a day earlier than, I went bare. The bishop locked the door, elevated the quantity of the tv and he went bare too.
“He squeezed and pinned me to the chair and sexually abused me. He was larger than me, so I used to be bleeding from my personal half. I pleaded with him, however he didn’t hear.
“After I informed him of the bleeding, he stated he knew that I ought to shut up. He then directed me to go and wash up. He collected my cellphone and cleaned the blood earlier than I got here out of the bed room. He threatened that if I inform anyone, I’ll run mad. So, I used to be within the visitor room until the next day.
“On June 22, I despatched a message to pastor Boluwatishe and informed him by way of a WhatsApp code, which we normally chat, that I had been violated.”
She continued that Bishop didn’t permit her exit of the home after the primary alleged sexual encounter with him.
“He despatched the gateman as an alternative anytime I wanted something. It was at the moment that it was daybreak on me that this man is a rapist. So, for my security, I used to be appearing silly and acted like I didn’t inform anybody.
“I used to be within the room when he got here to me once more and stated he wished to have intercourse however I refused. He was very offended, so I informed him I had bruises on my personal half from the earlier sexual violation.
“I used to be popping out from the room to the kitchen, on June 23, when he got here out of his room too, wrapping a towel and stated he wished to have intercourse with me. He stated I ought to rely it as a privilege that he violated me as a result of many individuals would like to have intercourse with him, however I informed him I’ve somebody I’m relationship that he’s not drawn to me.
“In the lounge on that very same morning of June 23, he took off my gown and raped me once more. He informed me I’d die if I informed anybody. I bled the second time due to the forceful entry.” She added.
She additional testified that the Bishop had earlier made a cellphone name to her on June 5, 2020, asking her and another pastors to come back to his home in Lagos.
“On June 19, once I received to the home, the Bishop got here out from the room, saying that I’ve a question to reply. He stated the punishment for me was to transcribe his message titled, ‘Fulfilling my Ministry.’
“The next day on June 20, solely the Bishop and I have been left in the home after others pastors had left. He informed me to go on a three-hour prayer work across the property, however I got here again house half-hour previous to the elapse of the prayer hours attributable to a heavy downpour.
“So, he queried why I got here again to the home earlier. I informed him it was as a result of heavy downpour. After I entered the visitor room the place I used to sleep, I met one Sister Jummy, who was additionally a church member. She was about taking her depart once I got here contained in the room.
“I used to be seated on the sofa that very same day, listening to pastor Chris message when the Bishop walked as much as me from the eating part and made feedback on the instructing I used to be listening to.
“He ordered me to go bare once more, which I did for the concern of what had occurred prior as a result of the bishop accused me of not being submissive and dependable to him as my religious father.
“He stated he wished to know my loyalty and see if I’ve lastly submitted to him. I informed him I might do something for him however intercourse. He tried kissing me and I finished him, then he slapped me.
“His eyes turned literal pink, he was shouting, and I used to be already in tears because the slap was a highly regarded one. He began telling me how he had thought me about honour and stated that an angel got here to him an evening earlier than and urged him to ask me to go bare.” She stated.
She stated the Bishop informed her that an angel was going to check her to go bare and that she wanted to show the angel fallacious by totally submitting to him.
“He stated he appreciated his spouse a lot that he might by no means have intercourse with me. He was in tears and stated that I couldn’t undergo him. So, he ordered me to placed on my garments. I began begging him, however he stated that I had upset him.”
She additional informed the court docket that after the Bishop allegedly had intercourse together with her the second time, he got here again begging her.
She additionally informed the court docket that the Bishop despatched her the sum of N5,000 whereas he was in Ghana to deal with herself after the bruises she sustained turned to boils, and he or she might not urinate.
After listening to her testimony, Justice Oshodi adjourned the case to Could 24, 2023, for cross-examination and continuation of the trial.
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