A South African court has acquitted Nigerian televangelist Tim Omotoso on 32 charges of rape and sexual assault, eight years after his initial arrest. The Eastern Cape High Court Judge Irma Schoeman cited mishandling of the case by state prosecutors as the primary reason for the verdict. Omotoso, the senior pastor at the Jesus Dominion International (JDI) church, was arrested in 2017 and faced multiple charges, including sexual exploitation and human trafficking.

Judge Schoeman acknowledged the improbable nature of the pastor's explanations but emphasized that the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Consequently, Omotoso and his two assistants were discharged on all counts. Following the verdict, Omotoso was seen kneeling in prayer.

The case drew significant attention due to the testimonies of women who claimed they were handpicked by Omotoso. These women alleged that the pastor would seek forgiveness after each encounter. Some of the women were members of a gospel girl band called Grace Galaxy, established by Omotoso, while others were still in school at the time of the alleged incidents, according to Judge Schoeman.

The verdict has sparked outrage amid South Africa's ongoing struggle with high rates of rape and abuse against women and children. Demonstrations took place outside the court in Gqeberha, with dozens of women protesting the outcome. These protests occurred against the backdrop of broader public outcry over gender-based violence, including recent rallies prompted by the alleged rape of a seven-year-old girl at her school. As of now, no arrests have been made in that particular case.

Official police figures indicate that 42,500 rapes were reported in South Africa during the financial year 2023-24, underscoring the severity of the issue and the challenges faced by the justice system in addressing it effectively.

In other news, the Police Command in Enugu State has refuted claims of any invasion or displacement of residents in Eha-Amufu, while the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has launched a community outreach initiative as part of the National Police Day 2025 celebrations. The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has also apprehended 51 suspected irregular migrants of Malian origin in Nasarawa State. Meanwhile, the Sokoto state government has cautioned residents against seeking treatment from local barbers for suspected metal poisoning cases.

Additionally, a coalition of water justice groups has urged the Oyo State Government and five other states to address issues with crumbling water utilities. The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has reiterated its call for a probe into the bombing of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex in October 2023.

Internationally, Heathrow airport faced warnings about its power supply prior to a major outage, and Azerbaijan has stated that Armenia must meet its demands before a peace treaty can be signed. Flutterwave has launched its Send App in Ghana, aiming to improve financial connectivity across Africa. Lastly, the wife of the Alaafin of Oyo has called on the government to empower women, particularly in rural areas.