Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso has been deported from South Africa and banned from entering the country for five years, following his recent acquittal on multiple charges of rape and human trafficking. Omotoso, the Senior Pastor of Jesus Dominion International based in Durban, South Africa, and founder of Tim Omotoso Global Outreach and Ancient of Day Broadcasting Network, was accused by several young women of luring them into his home in Umhlanga and molesting them.

He was initially arrested in April 2017 upon arrival at a South African airport. In April 2025, after an eight-year legal battle, a High Court in the Eastern Cape Division acquitted him of 32 charges, including rape, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking. The acquittal sparked public outrage, with critics citing prosecutorial missteps. While some media outlets reported Omotoso left the country voluntarily, others claimed he was deported on Sunday, May 18, 2025, via Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport. A journalist with SA FM, Themba Dlamini, confirmed the deportation, noting the National Prosecuting Authority could request his repatriation if needed. Footage showed Omotoso in a grey hoodie and sunglasses speaking with immigration officials.

Prior to his deportation, Omotoso was re-arrested on May 10, 2025, for immigration violations but was later released by a South African magistrate, who ruled he could not be held for more than 48 hours without formal charges. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has announced plans to appeal the acquittal and investigate the handling of the case. Fannie Masemola, National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), confirmed the cleric’s arrest.

In related news, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), led by Chairman/CEO Abike Dabiri-Erewa, received 12 trafficked girls and a five-year-old boy rescued from Ghana and Mali. The victims from Ghana are between 16 and 30 years old, while those from Mali are aged 27 and 35 years. Also, Lagos State is set to fully enforce the ban on Single Use Plastics (SUPs) by July 1st, following the successful ban on Styrofoam food packs.