On April 3, 2025, Nigerian pastor Timothy Omotoso was found innocent of all charges after spending eight years in a South African prison. The trial, which was broadcast live, sparked intense debate over justice, victims' rights, and the role of media in legal proceedings. Omotoso had been facing 32 charges of sexual abuse at his South African church and consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Back in 2018, a key witness alleged that Omotoso had raped her when she was just 14 years old. She claimed the incidents took place at the church he led in Port Elizabeth. However, on Wednesday, the judge ruled in Omotoso’s favour, citing serious errors in how prosecutors handled the case.

South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) echoed this sentiment, admitting that “former prosecutors in the case acted improperly and the accused were not sufficiently cross-examined by the state.” The NPA stated that it would now “consider its legal options” regarding the case’s outcome and noted that the prolonged nature of the trial was partly due to numerous legal challenges filed by Omotoso himself.

Following the verdict, Omotoso expressed gratitude for his acquittal, saying he thanked God for the outcome. His co-accused, Lusanda Sulani and Zikiswa Sitho, were also cleared of all charges. Omotoso was first arrested in 2017 at a South African airport while attempting to leave the country. His case became the first high-profile sexual assault trial to be televised in a nation grappling with high rates of gender-based violence.

With the trial now concluded, South African media outlet News24 has reported that Omotoso will be deported to Nigeria.